coffee_drinking_catlady's review
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
mommasaystoread's review
4.0
Jessie Teska is back, and to be honest, I wasn't sure if I was going to continue with this series or not. The first book was a bit more detailed in the morgue than I cared for, and I was leaning toward this just not being the series for me. I finally decided that I liked the character enough to give it another shot. This one follows in the same suit as the first, but I was ready for it this time, so it didn't bother me as much. It's still safe to say that this is not a book to read while having a snack, but it is an interesting procedural. Jessie is a likable character, and it's easy to get caught up in her investigation. The story is a slow build with a steadily rising tension, and it's easy to see just how talented these authors are. The flow and pacing work well for the story and while it may be more graphic than I prefer, it's still a book I'd recommend.
especiallybooks's review
3.0
This was my first adventure with Jessie Teska and I really enjoyed the story. Jessie is called to investigate a body found at a local construction site. But the man is discovered to have been murdered prior to the "accident". The setting is San Francisco and the author amps up the action with a twist when an earthquake hits the city. We find out a bit about Jessie's personal life as well. It's a good continuing entry in a police procedural series. I downgraded it a bit because I felt the characters are a bit unlikeable in this one. Jessie fights a lot with her "boyfriend" and has a one-night stand which further complicates matters. I'm not certain I will continue with the series, but it was an interesting listen.
Thank you to libro.fm for the advanced listening copy.
Thank you to libro.fm for the advanced listening copy.
txbooklover's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This is the second book in a series of medical thrillers. It builds on character background information from the first book (First Cut), but gives enough information about the character’s history to be able to be read as a standalone. In this book, the female medical examiner’s investigation of a suspicious death is complicated by an earthquake. I really like the details of the investigations as well as the less-than-obvious conclusions to these books. I’m really hoping the author will write more since right now there are just the two I’ve read. If you enjoy medical mystery, you’ll like these. 4.5/5 stars.
bookswithmeg's review
4.0
*Thanks to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for the complimentary copy for my honest review*
I did not read the first book in this installment before reading this one and I didn't feel like I was confused or had a hard time reading this book. The book opens with a huge discovery that immediately drew me in and made me want to find out what had happened and what was going to happen next. This book had so many different suspects and I was wracking my brain the whole time trying to figure out a motive for each one and who the bad person was. This was definitely more of a slow-burn mystery which I feel fit this book very well.
I did not read the first book in this installment before reading this one and I didn't feel like I was confused or had a hard time reading this book. The book opens with a huge discovery that immediately drew me in and made me want to find out what had happened and what was going to happen next. This book had so many different suspects and I was wracking my brain the whole time trying to figure out a motive for each one and who the bad person was. This was definitely more of a slow-burn mystery which I feel fit this book very well.
tessa_talks_books's review against another edition
3.0
Aftershock is a suspenseful new novel in the Jessie Teska mystery series by Judy Melinek and T.J. Mitchell.
The novel's suspense is developed so brilliantly that I couldn't put the book down even when I had other things I needed to do. It kept me gripped in its pages, waiting to see what would happen next. The story's earthquake was fitting for the setting and added another level of intrigue and suspense that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Jessie Teska is an independent, driven woman who grapples with the many scars' consequences from her childhood. She doesn't care if other people like her, only that she gives her job her all. Unfortunately, that attitude, along with her abruptness and disregard for her choices' possible consequences, made her a character that I found unsympathetic and unable to connect to on any level. She is well-developed on a technical level, but I could not find a connection that I could hold on to that would make me enjoy following her from one mystery to another.
The mystery of who murdered a famous architect comes to an expected conclusion, which surprised me since I wasn't even trying to figure out who did it. There are red herrings and misdirections, but there was just something about the murderer that was like a neon arrow pointing to that character. This did not detract from the suspense, however, so it did not impact my reading experience.
What did impact my reading experience is the social issue presented as a significant theme in the novel. (I think explaining what the theme is could be seen as a spoiler so that I won't name it.) Many aspects of the theme worked well with the story from all angles presented, but the ending stretched my suspended disbelief to where it snapped, and reality came crashing its way into the story. Unfortunately, this reaction made my enjoyment of the story not as great as I expected going into it.
Would I try another book in the series? I would because there are many great qualities to this mystery, but this particular story didn't hold me past the book's closing.
The novel's suspense is developed so brilliantly that I couldn't put the book down even when I had other things I needed to do. It kept me gripped in its pages, waiting to see what would happen next. The story's earthquake was fitting for the setting and added another level of intrigue and suspense that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Jessie Teska is an independent, driven woman who grapples with the many scars' consequences from her childhood. She doesn't care if other people like her, only that she gives her job her all. Unfortunately, that attitude, along with her abruptness and disregard for her choices' possible consequences, made her a character that I found unsympathetic and unable to connect to on any level. She is well-developed on a technical level, but I could not find a connection that I could hold on to that would make me enjoy following her from one mystery to another.
The mystery of who murdered a famous architect comes to an expected conclusion, which surprised me since I wasn't even trying to figure out who did it. There are red herrings and misdirections, but there was just something about the murderer that was like a neon arrow pointing to that character. This did not detract from the suspense, however, so it did not impact my reading experience.
What did impact my reading experience is the social issue presented as a significant theme in the novel. (I think explaining what the theme is could be seen as a spoiler so that I won't name it.) Many aspects of the theme worked well with the story from all angles presented, but the ending stretched my suspended disbelief to where it snapped, and reality came crashing its way into the story. Unfortunately, this reaction made my enjoyment of the story not as great as I expected going into it.
Would I try another book in the series? I would because there are many great qualities to this mystery, but this particular story didn't hold me past the book's closing.
quirkycatsfatstacks's review
4.0
I received a copy of Aftershock in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Judy Melinek and T.J. Mitchell are back for the second novel in the Dr. Jessi Teska Mystery series – Aftershock.
Dr. Jessi Teska is no stranger to mysteries. It's all part of the job for her. But when an earthquake hits part of San Francisco, even she isn't fully prepared for what she will see. Or the mysteries that will rise up with the event.
Unsurprisingly, a body has been discovered. At a glance, this would appear to have been an accident. After all, construction sites plus earthquakes usually don't spell out good things. Yet any professional could quickly see how very wrong this initial assessment is.
“Where's all the blood from that crush injury? There's drag marks and damage to the clothing to match.”
Aftershock was a tense and thrilling read – exactly what the description promised it would be! Jessi's investigation is the sort that immediately pulls the reader into the mystery, and doesn't leave them disappointed by the conclusion.
Confession time: I actually didn't read First Cut before diving into this read. Still, I had no trouble following along, proving that this is a highly approachable sequel in this series. Personally, I love it when mystery series do that. Now new fans can be found at any point along the way.
Dr. Jessi Teska is a forensic pathologist – which I actually adore. She makes for a great and fairly unique perspective on the whole procedural crime circuit. Honestly, I almost want to say that we need more like this!
Anyway, moving on. Jessi makes for a perfect protagonist. She's smart (obviously), driven, determined, and no afraid to chase after what she considers to be important. Such as solving a series of murders.
If you like slow-burning mysteries with strong crime procedural elements, then this is the book for you. Aftershock has all of that, and more.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Judy Melinek and T.J. Mitchell are back for the second novel in the Dr. Jessi Teska Mystery series – Aftershock.
Dr. Jessi Teska is no stranger to mysteries. It's all part of the job for her. But when an earthquake hits part of San Francisco, even she isn't fully prepared for what she will see. Or the mysteries that will rise up with the event.
Unsurprisingly, a body has been discovered. At a glance, this would appear to have been an accident. After all, construction sites plus earthquakes usually don't spell out good things. Yet any professional could quickly see how very wrong this initial assessment is.
“Where's all the blood from that crush injury? There's drag marks and damage to the clothing to match.”
Aftershock was a tense and thrilling read – exactly what the description promised it would be! Jessi's investigation is the sort that immediately pulls the reader into the mystery, and doesn't leave them disappointed by the conclusion.
Confession time: I actually didn't read First Cut before diving into this read. Still, I had no trouble following along, proving that this is a highly approachable sequel in this series. Personally, I love it when mystery series do that. Now new fans can be found at any point along the way.
Dr. Jessi Teska is a forensic pathologist – which I actually adore. She makes for a great and fairly unique perspective on the whole procedural crime circuit. Honestly, I almost want to say that we need more like this!
Anyway, moving on. Jessi makes for a perfect protagonist. She's smart (obviously), driven, determined, and no afraid to chase after what she considers to be important. Such as solving a series of murders.
If you like slow-burning mysteries with strong crime procedural elements, then this is the book for you. Aftershock has all of that, and more.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
jbattilochi's review
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
onceupon_a_bookdream's review against another edition
2.0
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
When I was given an option to review an arc of Aftershock by Judy Melinek and T.J. Mitchell I read the synopsis and was quite excited for it. I think in the future I need to pay more attention because if I knew this was a procedural mystery I might have passed.
Unfortunately there was more about this book that I disliked than I enjoyed. While it was well written and the story read smoothly, the most interesting parts to me where the times spent in the actual morgue. That's all I have for you in the positive column.
I don't know if it's because I didn't read the first book, therefore I had no former attachment to Dr. Jessie Teska but she was a very disappointing lead. She was completely work focused and when it came to her personal life I found her selfish and unlikable. Something happens around the 60% mark that made me want to smack her. She handles her romantic relationship immaturely and makes excuses for her own behavior. Whether or not her personal relationship partner was a good match or not didn't excuse her actions.
Onto the main plot line of the story, the mystery aspect. I guess I never fully understood why, as the medical examiner, she was so involved in the investigation process. Besides that I found the mystery of 'who dunnit' underwhelming. When Jessie figures it all out, my reaction was an eye roll.
In the end, Aftershock was just not the book for me.
When I was given an option to review an arc of Aftershock by Judy Melinek and T.J. Mitchell I read the synopsis and was quite excited for it. I think in the future I need to pay more attention because if I knew this was a procedural mystery I might have passed.
Unfortunately there was more about this book that I disliked than I enjoyed. While it was well written and the story read smoothly, the most interesting parts to me where the times spent in the actual morgue. That's all I have for you in the positive column.
I don't know if it's because I didn't read the first book, therefore I had no former attachment to Dr. Jessie Teska but she was a very disappointing lead. She was completely work focused and when it came to her personal life I found her selfish and unlikable. Something happens around the 60% mark that made me want to smack her. She handles her romantic relationship immaturely and makes excuses for her own behavior. Whether or not her personal relationship partner was a good match or not didn't excuse her actions.
Onto the main plot line of the story, the mystery aspect. I guess I never fully understood why, as the medical examiner, she was so involved in the investigation process. Besides that I found the mystery of 'who dunnit' underwhelming. When Jessie figures it all out, my reaction was an eye roll.
In the end, Aftershock was just not the book for me.