Valerie Wilson WesleyReseñas

Dessa Jones isn't your standard amateur sleuth. For one thing, she's a caterer with a das y job as a realtor, and for another, she gets some psychic input from the universe. Although, the signs aren't always clear, and her aunts haven't given her too many details about how to interpret the glimmers she sees. Dessa is fiercely loyal to her friends even though the realty office seems to attract trouble. This series keeps getting better with each book!

Thanks to Kensington Books for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.

A Fatal Glow by Valerie Wilson Wesley is a fantastic second book in the Odessa Jones Mysteries. I enjoyed the first one, A Glimmer of Death, but with Odessa starting to come more into her mystical powers more, I enjoyed A Fatal Glow even more!

Wesley continues to give us well developed characters and we are introduced to a few more in book two. Love Aunt Phoenix and really feel a kinship with her! Even when Wesley writes a mean character she keeps me interested and it doesn’t feel fake, which I’ve found to be the case with some other cozy mystery writers. Wesley also isn’t afraid to write about some hard topics that other cozy mystery writers steer clear of, which is very refreshing.

As far as the mystery went, we do get a bunch of suspects, but I was able to figure out the killer pretty easy, but it didn’t take away from the story because of how engrossed I became in the characters. I also enjoyed that while Dessa investigates she never does so in a way that really puts her in danger.

Looking forward to book three in the Odessa Jones Mysteries.

amateur-sleuth, New Jersey, family, family-dynamics, friendship, real-estate, baker, other-gifted, cozy-mystery, law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, situational-humor, witty, small-business, small-town, falsely-accused*****

Odessa Jones is a recent widow who is gathering a family of her own to care for. She does have and aunt or two with similar psychic gifts which can be alarming and dreadful. She comes into contact with some truly awful members of a local family through her work as a baker/real estate agent and that leads to finding a murder or two as well as other people she knew in high school. The plot is complex and addictive, the characters are so well done I expected to meet them locally. And talk about plot twists and red herrings! I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

The first book in the Odessa Jones series. The first in a new series!

Odessa Jones, a realtor in New Jersey has the ability to sense smells, and hear things other folks can’t. Aunt Phoenix calls “glimmers”, hazy auras, sometimes with color, appear when certain people enter her space. She can “read” rooms and know intimate things about the occupants. She senses bad things. This “gift” couldn’t be trusted, useless, comes, lingers, then disappears sometimes. You have to listen to it.

It was an added pleasure that Odessa was an experienced cook and owned a catering business. I love novels with cooking in the theme. I felt the glimmers didn’t really amount to much for Odessa, but maybe it something she has to hone and understand in future incidents. I enjoyed the innocents of Odessa, and look forward to reading the next novel in the series.½

A Glimmer of Death by Valerie Wilson Wesley is the debut of the Odessa Jones Mysteries. Odessa “Dessa” Jones is a widow who is still grieving the loss of her beloved husband. They had a catering business together, but Dessa has not felt like cooking since her husband’s death. This is what led Dessa to get her realtor’s license and begin working at Risko Realty. Dessa was hoping for a cozy work atmosphere where she would make friends, but that is not the case at Risko Realty. Charlie Risko has a temper, and the atmosphere is tense. Odessa inherited the family “gift”, but she is wary of it and has never learned to use it. We learn more about Odessa, her deceased husband, her “gift”, and her family as the book progresses. A Glimmer of Death is told in the first-person point-of-view, so we are privy to all of Odessa’s thoughts (which can be rambling and repetitious). I was not a fan of Odessa nor many of the other characters in this book. The exception is Odessa’s two aunts. The murder of Charlie Risko has Odessa questioning her fellow realtors in hopes of revealing the killer. She uses baked goods as a way to get into their homes and ask questions. There are a handful of unlikeable suspects all with motive to kill Charlie (he was an odious man). Most readers will have no problem solving this whodunit long before the reveal. I had hoped it would be more of a challenge since there were so many suspects. The clues were a bit too obvious. I do want to let readers know there is, unfortunately, some mild foul language in the book. I like the potential love interest for Odessa. He is a kind man who is a former cop who now runs a killer barbecue joint. He is also helpful to Odessa’s investigation. I wanted to like A Glimmer of Death, but it is a lukewarm read for me. I could not get into the book. I found it a dull read (boring, unlikeable characters, sluggish pacing, and an easy to solve mystery). The paranormal element was light and confusing. The story needed more excitement and action. It is classified as a cozy mystery, but it lacked that cozy feel (charming small town with friendly residents). The ending was anticlimactic and rushed. This is the first book in the series, so I am hoping for improvement in the next Odessa Jones Mystery.

I think I like this new writer, but I'd like to read more.½

A Glimmer of Death by Valerie Wilson Wesley is a bit of a tough one to write about. I want you to read it because it was really good, but if you are a hardcore cozy fanatic, it may not be what you usually look for in a cozy. Most of the aspects are there, but there is a really big one that is missing… at least it was for me.

Usually in cozies there are so many wonderful characters and that’s one of the reasons that readers keep coming back. These characters become friends and you want to catch up with them when the next book comes out. But in A Glimmer of Death, a lot of the people were nasty pieces of work.
Now, I don’t want you to decide not to read it because Wesley really does a great job with character development, even the not so likeable characters. And there are still characters that you will enjoy, and a lot of diverse characters too! I just want to let you know before you delve into the book… this is a review after all. ;)

I loved the premise with Dessa and her family having psychic abilities. It was a fun change to have the main character already aware of them, instead of spending half of the book realizing it. Yet, Desssa doesn’t have a firm grip on them, so we do get some exploration. And we are introduced to her two aunts who do have their powers more under control. I really enjoyed her aunt's powers when it comes to money. Often in the supernatural community you shouldn’t use these types of powers to benefit yourself, but maybe it’s the dark witch in me that says, “Why not?!?”

I was also very happy with the way the love interest is playing out and that he was a police officer so he still has contacts on the force, but that he has a profession that matches Dessa more. Plus his grandma’s name was Odessa too, so how perfect is that. And as far as the mystery goes there are a lot of suspects and red herrings, but if you pay attention there’s a good chance you’ll be able to figure it out before the end of the book. There were two things that Wesley included that helped me come to the conclusion early.

An excellent start to a new series, and I really hope that the slight change from the usual cozy doesn’t stop you from reading it or makes you leave a negative review just because of it.

family-dynamics, friendship, widow, real-estate, baker, other-gifted, cozy-mystery, murder, discrimination, situational-humor, small town, small business*****

While trying to dig herself out of grieving for her husband who died a sudden unexpected death, Dessa is working as a real estate agent with some challenging coworkers. Dessa senses some aspects of them but isn't sure of that part of her. Then the boss gets murdered in the office and the Afghanistan vet is arrested because his prints were on the murder weapon. But he has no one else to turn to except Dessa who comes to believe in him but finds some disturbing photos in his apartment when she goes there to pick up his parakeet (note that she owns a cat!). Seems as if everyone trusts her but she decides that the way to get through the confusion is to do a limited resume of the business she had shared with her husband (baking) in order to pick the brain of the friendly restaurant owner who is an ex-cop. Lots of suspects, plot twists, red herrings, and another murder or two in this start of an excellent series!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

"Rule Book #4" of the Willimena Rules! series. Willie's older sister Tina has written a play that's been selected to be produced as a school play. Willie longs to play the proud fairy princess but her audition goes badly and she is selected instead to be one of the trees. Rehearsals go from bad to worse when just before the big night, the boy acting as Prince Igor loses his voice. Willie steps forward to play the Prince because she knows all his lines. The play is saved and Willie earns Tina's gratitude.

Tamara Hayle mysteries get me all wrapped up. This is a short and quick one but still quite lovable. The plot twists, the characters, the thrill of figuring out whodunit - there are many reasons to love this book and this writer. I can't wait to read the others.

From July 2005 School Library Journal:
Valerie Wilson Wesley is in high form in her latest novel—this time with a story about mother-daughter relationships. When she was in her 30’s, Mariah had an affair that led to her leaving her husband and her two daughters. Several months later, she shot her lover and spent time in prison for his murder. Now Rose and Dani are grown and she has just read of her ex-husband’s death. Desperate to make peace with her daughters after all these years, she makes plans to attend the funeral. Meanwhile, Rose and Dani have spent their lives trying to come to terms with the desertion of their mother. The choices that they have made in their relationships reflect both the influence of their Aunt Lucille, who raised them, and the lingering memories of Mariah. When the three women meet again, long-buried issues are brought to the surface, and change each of their lives in ways they could not have anticipated. Told from the first person perspectives of Mariah, Rose, Dani, and Lucille, the story is rich and compelling, and much more complex than it appears on the surface. Interwoven into the story of Mariah and her daughters are themes of racial relationships and the drug culture of the sixties and seventies. Wesley, a contributing editor at Essence, and the author of several previous novels, shows her skill at developing characters who are utterly believable in their various combinations of grace and flaws. High school students will identify with the struggles of each of these women to define themselves rather than letting their circumstances define them.

Ein sehr, sehr kluges Buch über die Liebe in ihren unterschiedlichsten Facetten. An einem Samstag verlässt Marie ihre beiden Töchter, um zu ihrem Liebhaber zu ziehen, den sie bald darauf erschießt. Aus dem Gefängnis entlassen bietet sich nach Jahrzehnten die Gelegenheit, mit ihren Töchtern ins Reine zu kommen. Das ist aber alles andere als einfach, denn diese kämpfen nicht nur mit ihrer ambivalenten Beziehung zu einer Mutter, die sie ohne Erklärungen verlassen hat, sondern auch mit sich selbst und ihrem familiären Beziehungsgeflecht. Angesiedelt ist der Roman, der sehr geschickt aus unterschiedlichen Blickwinkeln erzählt wird, im gehobenen schwarzen Bürgertum in News York. Rückblenden auf die 1970er Jahre erweitern die Geschichte damit noch um den spekt der Rassendiskriminierung. Wer sich ein Happy End erwartet, ist falsch gewickelt, dafür gibt es eine logische Erklärung, die nachdenklich und traurig macht.

This fictional story is based on true events. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 freeing slaves, but the news did not reach the slave of Texas until June 19, 1865. In this story a cousin from New York visits her family in Texas. Aunt Marshall tells the tale of the first Juenteenth when she found her sister once again. But life in Texas is still not completely free as the “whites only” signs declare.

A trio of great single women is being driven to distraction; they have one thing in common -- Randall Hollis, a successful art dealer at the top of his game. Randall is rich, handsome, and charming -- the true-to-life dream lover of these smart, independent women who all find themselves passionately involved with him during the same seven-month period.

There's Medora Jackson, an artist who has loved Randall since college and is now desperately trying to cut him loose. But turning Randall Hollis out of her life will end up being far more difficult than she thinks. There's Ana Reese-Mitchell, a wealthy widow and art collector who is haunted by the death of her best friend and the specter of her cruel late husband. She hopes Randall Hollis will be her second chance at love. And there's ambitious Taylor Benedict, a graduate student in art history who is coming to terms with her parents' divorce and problems from her childhood that she can't chase away. She's sure that Randall Hollis will be the first rung on her ladder to success.

Randall Hollis is a man for all seasons, representing a different fantasy for each of the women who love him. As the novel unfolds, each woman will discover more about herself than she bargained for. And each, along with the errant Randall himself, will finally know the true meaning of love and the peace that comes with forgiveness.

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This was the kind of reading that had me asking what would happen next. Not because the story had me on the edge of my seat in suspense, but because I had grown to care about all the characters and truly wanted to know how all their lives worked out. The biggest emotion everyone had in common was the desperate need to find the true meaning of love. Then there was the telling of how they went about finding that love.

First, there is 44 year old Hutch who ups and leaves his wife Eva, at two in the morning. He has no idea why he has to leave but he also knows there is no way he can stay. As he says, he lost his joy. No one is more baffled by Hutch's behavior than Hutch himself, but leave he must. Eva, his second wife of ten years, oscillates between sheer rage and utter despair as she copes with a huge house she hasn't a clue for to maintain. Hutch runs to Donald, his best friend, who is constantly cheating on his seemingly perfect wife yet Donald's seemingly perfect wife seems like a perfect match for Hutch, especially in his confused state of mind. Eva seems best suited for her own daughter's ex-boyfriend. It's a merry-go-round of emotions and relationships and no relationship combination is spared: mother-daughter, father-son, best friends, lovers, old married couples, newlyweds...Everyone is looking for something just out of reach and ignoring what's right in front of them.½

Valerie Wilson Wesley addresses the time honored fear of losing the class pet in Willimena Rules!: Rule #1: How to Lose Your Class Pet. Spunky third-grader Willimena (Willie, for short) is terrified to learn that she will be in Miss Sweetly’s class, since it is well-known that Miss Sweetly is a mean teacher who never smiles. She resolves to solve this problem by volunteering for everything she can in class and being as nice as possible to Miss Sweetly. Her older sister warns her against such behavior, but Willie is determined to get on Miss Sweetly’s good side. On the second day of class, Willie volunteers to take care of Lester, the class guinea pig. She changes gives him water and pellets, and changes his cage. When Miss Sweetly asks her if she wants to take him home for the weekend, Willie jumps at the chance. Unfortunately, when Willie changes Lester’s cage at her house she sets him in the grass to try to make him happy, since she learned that guinea pigs’ natural habitat is grassy. The results are disastrous, as Lester runs away and no matter how hard all of the neighborhood kids search, he can’t be found. Willie knows that she will have to face the wrath of Miss Sweetly, but her teacher’s reaction surprises her, and makes her realize that you can’t always believe what you hear about people.
Wesley has broached a subject that is easy to relate to for many children, and she handles it with just the right amount of humor. While parts of this book feel forced, such as the sudden lesson about guinea pig habitats, it is still a fun read that will hit home. The cast of characters that surround Willie could be the kids from any classroom or neighborhood, which makes this book feel accessible. Even every-day arguments about which grade has the “bigger” babies are covered, which is something to which most elementary and even middle school students can relate. Black and white pencil illustrations complete with word and though bubbles add charm to the text. Recommended for grades 3 – 5.

Summary: At first glance I could tell this story depicts an African American family. It is told by June, a little girl whose visiting cousin; Lillie, learns that different geographical places consider "Freedom" as a term that means freedom from bondage of masters. This is contrary to what Lillie understands freedom to represent. The great aunt remembers the problems she and her sister went through, to the current celebration the family is preparing to go to. Eventually, June and her cousin relate to these problems when Lillie sees a water fountain with a sign stating, "Whites Only", this opens up the reasoning for the celebration "Juneteenth".

Review: A beautiful book with matt finish illustrations. A good short story that depicts an African American family whose trials through their dilemma; being bought and sold as slaves, will allow the next generation new opportunities that she herself will never live long enough to experience. So, she wants the cousins to claim these rights for themselves and an even younger generation.

Extension Ideas: This is a good book to talk about how African American families were discriminated against, what their fears were, how they were lied to and kept ignorant of the law that enforced anti-discrimination of African American people. As well, the challenges people have during the planning and preparing for celebrations.

Willimena tries to win the favor of her new third grade teacher by volunteering to take care of the class pet, but things don't work out as planned. Think Junie B. Jones, but slightly older and African American. Willimena deals with family, friends, and school in comic ways, with pencil drawings interspersed with the text doing a great job of showing the emotions of the characters. This book is fairly didactic, with the main lesson being a rather powerful one when the story doesn't have the happy ending readers might expect. However, reading two pages on Harriet Tubman or the habitat and habits of Guinea pigs yanks the story off track; what are they doing here? A journal entry at the end sets up the next book in the series; hopefully that one can keep the comic charm while loosing the school lessons.½

This is the eighth installment of the popular Tamara Hayle series by Valerie Wilson Wesley. Tamara Hayle is a Private Detective that has a leisurely, `home-girl' way of unveiling a mystery. She’s a character with flaws but that makes her feel real.

This was a book club selection and my first read of her series. I would have liked to have read “Where Evil Sleeps” to be completely caught up on the characters and their past. My favorite characters were the mysteriously sexy Basil Dupre and Tamara's best friend Wyvetta Green (the proud owner of the Beauty Biscuit), that adds just the right touch to this story. Tamara's quandary about her two lovers puts some heat into the action and I found myself wondering which man she would choose. I felt Tamara's anguish at her son's choices which put him smack dab in the middle of her investigation when Lilah, who is found murdered in her car with Jamal's backpack in the rear seat.

Not enough mystery/suspense. When the killer is revealed, it is slightly anti-climatic because you realize that it wasn't as complicated as you originally thought. However, the story kept me guessing with each flip of the page until the very end.

This was my first and sincerely not my last Tamara Hayle mystery.

Intermediate
This is a good example of realistic fiction. The characters are realistic people living in a town in the modern United States. The story of a girl loosing her class pet is something that could really happen.
Media: pencil

Family betrayal and tragedy.½

More of an action thriller than a whodunit.½

Mystery solution not as obvious as the first in the series. But also, not as tight a story. But still a worthy read.½

A good dramatic story. The mystery solution was way too obvious.½

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