Scan barcode
kdurham2's review
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
The second in a series and while each book had a mystery contained there was major character development from book to book, so I suggest going back to book one and starting there!
Jessie Teska is a deputy chief medical examiner in San Francisco and she is on a construction site where a dead body may not be what it may seem - still dead, just maybe not a construction accident. While she is just the medical examiner, Teska doesn't have much faith in the detectives to do the real digging, so she goes and does her own and then an earthquake happens!
The second in a series and while each book had a mystery contained there was major character development from book to book, so I suggest going back to book one and starting there!
Jessie Teska is a deputy chief medical examiner in San Francisco and she is on a construction site where a dead body may not be what it may seem - still dead, just maybe not a construction accident. While she is just the medical examiner, Teska doesn't have much faith in the detectives to do the real digging, so she goes and does her own and then an earthquake happens!
henrymarlene's review against another edition
3.0
An earthquake aftershock is unpredictable. There are no set numbers, no rhythm, no timing but they are powerful, and are unable to be controlled. Jessie (Czesława) Teska is a little like that: Stubborn, headstrong, not thinking before speaking. She is also powerful, working with others with and in power. Jessie gets way too involved in her work because she loves her work. Her involvement with the murder of a famous architect is the example you need to see her commitment to her job, sometimes foolishly putting her own life at risk. Risk was also something Jessie pushed at, especially in her elationship with Anup which was strained at the very least. His worry for her life when the earthquake strikes was commendable, however the repercussions of his behaviour ripples through the story. Their showdowns were large and loud, and seemed so unexpected.
Loved the Polish phrases throughout the book, especially the swearing (they warmed my heart lol). The back stories of her mother and brother were a little limp, more like page filler, and needed a little more substance. Same with Sparkles and Big Mike, especially the connection they had to the main plotline. Possibly they will be expanded in this mystery series? Also just as Jessie was keen to solve many of the issues arising from the death of the architect, she didn't seem as motivated to address the behaviour that was thrown at her by many of the highly influential people she worked with on a daily basis. Possibly more aftershocks to deal with, at another time?
Loved the Polish phrases throughout the book, especially the swearing (they warmed my heart lol). The back stories of her mother and brother were a little limp, more like page filler, and needed a little more substance. Same with Sparkles and Big Mike, especially the connection they had to the main plotline. Possibly they will be expanded in this mystery series? Also just as Jessie was keen to solve many of the issues arising from the death of the architect, she didn't seem as motivated to address the behaviour that was thrown at her by many of the highly influential people she worked with on a daily basis. Possibly more aftershocks to deal with, at another time?
natashaniezgoda's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as book 1, but that cliffhanger is very intriguing
samalvarez823's review against another edition
5.0
I am such a nerd when it comes to death and I’m truly loving this series. It helps that it has crime, suspense and even mystery wrapped up in a neat thriller novel. This is the second in the Dr Jessie Teska series and I’m obsessed. She’s tough, brilliant but, also has that vulnerable female side to her that most of us can relate to.
I’m this installment, Dr Teska has to undertake casualties caused from an earthquake as well as figure out who murdered a very important architect. The murder is supposed to look like a work place accident but our Dr Teska knows better immediately. Will she find love or will she remain single as well?
If you haven’t read the first in this series, I highly recommend it. It introduces you to the characters and their personalities as well as backstory that will be brought up in this book.
Awesome job Dr Melinek, please keep them coming!! Special thanks to the author, NetGalley and Harlequin for this review copy!
I’m this installment, Dr Teska has to undertake casualties caused from an earthquake as well as figure out who murdered a very important architect. The murder is supposed to look like a work place accident but our Dr Teska knows better immediately. Will she find love or will she remain single as well?
If you haven’t read the first in this series, I highly recommend it. It introduces you to the characters and their personalities as well as backstory that will be brought up in this book.
Awesome job Dr Melinek, please keep them coming!! Special thanks to the author, NetGalley and Harlequin for this review copy!
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.
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.