“A Display of Death” By Gin Jones: Review/Giveaway

by Kathleen Costa

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an ebook copy of this book, and a link to purchase it from Amazon.

A Dose of…Entertainment!
Published in 2014, Gin Jones first penned the engaging Helen Binney Mystery series with A Dose of Death. Fans were introduced to Helen Binney, the former governor’s ex-wife, who is living with a lupus diagnosis. Often cozy mystery books have characters dealing with some degree of tragic circumstances that spur them on or add a subplot, but Gin’s female lead Helen Binney is quite unique. Her disease is given respectful attention by incorporating her physical limitations. Although the diagnosis poses challenges, it is Helen’s strength, independence, cleverness, and humor that makes this a fan favorite. The series offers insights into lupus through Helen’s experiences, but this is first and foremost a cozy mystery…murder happens from an annoying nurse to a missing wife, from a celebrity poker player to a real estate developer, from a rude competitor to a doctor promoting a miracle cure. This spunky middle-aged woman is not going to let her physical limitations keep her from living a full life!

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Check out the complete Helen Bonney Mystery series
1—A Dose of Death 2—A Denial of Death
3—A Draw of Death 3.5—A (Gingerbread) Diorama of Death
4—A Dawn of Death 5—A Darling of Death
6—A Display of Death

Image Source Gin Jones

A Display of Death earns 5/5 Event Badges…Clever and Engaging!

Helen is taking her diagnosis by the horns and refusing to let it control or define her by heading off to a conference wanting to be up-to-date with the latest research and treatment options. She finds the setup doesn't allow much interaction between doctors and patients, but her new comrade-in-arms is keen on slipping unnoticed into a few off-limits and doctor-only sessions. The new Briscoe Protocol is creating a lot of buzz from both “sign me up” hopefuls and “too good to be true” skeptics. But the skeptics may have won out when Helen discovers Dr. Briscoe dead next to his display touting his all-nature protocols as a “cure.” The “miracle” side of the claim is in question and theories abound. Fake claims? Poaching patients? Professional jealousy? Imposters? Stolen intellectual property? And…anyone of them could be a motive for murder!

I didn't know what to expect starting with the sixth book, so much has transpired in the series and characters and relationships are well established, but it was easy to join in since I've been a fan of Gin Jones’s three-book Danger Cove Farmers’ Market and four-book Danger Cove Quilting Mystery books. Gin follows the traditional cozy formula giving readers a desire for karma: annoying or criminal character introduced (check), dead body found (check), amateur investigation ensues (check), plethora of suspects with legitimate motives (check), quirky characters appear (check), friends or family ensnared (check), karma wins out (check!) However, she went well beyond with entertaining subplots, vivid descriptions, engaging banter, some perilous situations, and having the conference setting dictating a fascinating focus on Helen and her diagnosis. The murder mystery was very involved with several avenues of questioning, suspects, and motives. I personally narrowed my list down to two very good possibilities, so at the final reveal I was pleased I had followed the clues well. However, I prefer a first-person narrative, but the lack of an “I” perspective did not effect my enjoyment. Gin’s writing style and wonderful characters made this an entertaining page-turner.

Be a Big Gin Jones!
Website - Gin Jones
Twitter @giniajo
Instagram - GinJonesMysteries

Author's Note
By Gin Jones
(Excerpt from A Display of Death)

Gin Jones

I have some experience with attending patient support group conferences, so emotional aspects of this story are true to my experience. The group in this story is entirely fictional, however, not based on or even inspired by any real people or groups. The only reality-based facts in this story are that lupus, like most autoimmune disorders, has no cure, the research proceeds frustratingly slowly, and the available treatments are less than ideal. For readers who have lupus or any other chronic disease themselves, I encourage you to join a patient advocacy group. My involvement with a patient group for a different disorder has given me some of the best experiences of my life. There are several organizations doing great work advocating for lupus patients in the United States, pushing for better treatment options and a cure, including the Lupus and Allied Diseases Association, Inc., the Lupus Foundation, and the Lupus Research Alliance, all of which have websites where you can get more information

To enter to win an ebook copy of A Display of Death, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "display,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen February 2, 2019. If entering via comment please include your email address. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors!

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Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is a 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying her retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.