Wow. This novel really had me hooked. Great characterisation and a fast paced thrilling storyline that kept my interest throughout. Thanks for the opportunity to read

This is the third book in the Julia Gooden Mystery Series and I recommend that you read them in order. There is an ongoing story in these books and there is a lot of character development that will be missed if you don't. Having said that, some readers have jumped in and had not problems with the story.

Julia is a crime reporter which gives this mystery a unique viewpoint and perspective. Julia is a flawed character who is smart, assertive and daring. The story of the disappearance of her brother, Ben, is woven throughout this story and perhaps, the ties to that crime might come to the forefront in this outing. Her new story involves the death of the young nephew of a city councilman. The deeper she digs she begins to find connections to a string of past murders and kidnappings. Then there is the man who looks familiar to her, is it who she thinks it is? As her past catches up with her present, will Julia finally learn the answers she has been seeking.

I really like Julia's character and find her to be realistic. Haseldine's former life as a crime reporter gives the story authenticity. A good reporter and a mind for unraveling puzzles Julia also has an in with the police department through her boy friend Raymond Navarro. Ray is very protective of Julia and her boys and I was happy to see them take their relationship to the next level. This was a well-written story that held my attention from the first page. There were lots of twists and turns that led down a crooked trail revealing several other murders along with greed, corruption, blackmail, art crimes, kickbacks, and some psychopaths. When Julia finally comes to the end of the story, she finally gets some closure to the search for her brother. I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to the next, new case that Julia investigates.

I was given an electronic copy of Worth Killing For via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Crime reporter Julia Gooden has never quite let the turmoil of her past go, especially regarding the disappearance of her beloved older brother Ben. When the murder of a city councilman's nephew leads police to discover similarities to other cold case killings, will a tenuous link back to her family allow Julia to find the information she needs?

This is the third novel featuring main character Julia Gooden, but it is by no means redundant or boring. As the author delves deep into Julia's past, which has previously been explained but not explored, readers are given a true picture as to the events and situations which molded her. The aspect of the novels that I have liked the most is the fact that Julia always loops law enforcement in when she follows a lead that becomes fruitful. Her relationship with the police has served Julia well and shows how mutual cooperation between different entities can help the public.

Although reading the previous novels is not strictly necessary, there is a story arc that ties all of them together. I recommend Worth Killing For to those who like mystery thrillers, as this novel features a strong main character with a good moral compass and great investigative skills.

**I haven't read the first two books in the series, and while Wirth Killing For is enjoyable without them , it would have made the book a little better :)

Good storyline, I love the locations and well done descriptions.

3rd in the series about Julia Gooden, a Detroit crime reporter, but even though I hadn't read the first two, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Julia's family wad blown up 30 some years ago when her mother was killed, her criminal father takes off and her brother Ben, hero and protector, disappears. His disappearance haunts her and when her father shows up again, she hopes she will finally solve this mystery. Thumbs up on this one, now I'll go back and read the first two.

Worth Killing For by Jane Haseldine is the 3rd book in the Julia Gooden Mystery series, and another great addition. Wow, this book is a roller coaster ride from start to finish. I really enjoyed this book and strongly recommend it for people who enjoy a good mystery/thriller. I also enjoyed the first two books in the series, The Last Time She Saw Him and Duplicity. Worth Killing For can be read as a stand alone, but you get a deeper understanding by reading the books in order. Looking forward to the next book by this author. This book concentrates on Julia's brothers unsolved disappearance, which took place when they were children.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The past never really leaves us. Crime reporter Julia Gooden sees proof of this every day in her stories. A dark childhood, a negligent parent, early abandonment--any one of them can seal a person's fate as either a villain or victim. Julia, who experienced all three, seems to have beaten the odds, finding happiness raising her two sons and a blossoming relationship with detective Raymond Navarro.


This is the third book in the Julia Gooden series. While it can read as a standalone, I’m glad I’ve been able to read the other books for a fuller understanding of the characters and events leading to this installment.

Julia hasn’t seen her father, Duke Gooden, in decades. Her conman father abandoned Julia and her sister Sarah shortly before the disappearance of their 9 year old brother, Ben. Julia always knew Ben would protect her, and after the disappearance Julia’s life was changed forever. It gave her strength, courage, and the driving force to find out what happened to Ben that night. Julia is also very protective of her 2 young sons, the lingering fear of what happened to Ben along with her dangerous career as an investigative reporter, drives her every day to keep them safe. Her romantic relationship with Detective Ray Navarro is growing deeper, and bringing him further into her family seems to be something good for them all.

When Julia catches a look at a man with the same piercing blue eyes as Duke, she knows it’s him. No matter what everyone says happened to him all those years ago, Julia wouldn’t forget the charismatic but selfish man who was her dad. This book in the series goes deeper into Julia’s family history, and leads her to working with Duke and her estranged sister, Sarah to get to the bottom of who’s the killer currently hunting his victims with a bow and arrow – and how the tangled web involves Julia’s family history, especially her father’s greed and penchant for bringing danger to everyone around him.

The book has a quick pace, plenty of mystery, and full character development. I received an ARC from NetGalley and wanted to share my opinion.

Julia Gooden has been a crime reporter in Detroit for nearly 15 years. Julia is still haunted by the abduction of her older brother Ben thirty years ago. Julia is trying to focus on her latest story - murder of a city councilman's nephew which could be the work of a serial killer. However, she is distracted when has a chance meeting with a man she hasn't seen in many years, which brings up old memories and makes more determined than ever to finally find the truth about what really happened to Ben.

"Worth Killing For" is the third book in the Julia Gooden series. I enjoyed the first book, but missed the second. The book refers to events in the prior books, but could be enjoyed without reading the first two books. This installment is just as good as the first, but Julia bothered me more in this book. I like that she is smart and determined, but she is independent to the point of being reckless. It seems all her detective boyfriend has to do is ask her not to do something and she immediately rushes to do it, regardless of the danger. This happens over and over throughout the book and becomes frustrating.

The plot of the book is complex and some developments are overly complicated and slow the pace, but overall the book is suspenseful and enjoyable. Julia encounters more than one unpleasant person as she seeks information about her missing brother, but the main villain is very creepy and scary. Julia may not have liked the way everything turned out, but all of the unanswered questions in the book are resolved by the end.

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Kensington. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Julia Golden is a crime reporter in Detroit. Her brother Ben was kidnapped when he was 9 and Julia was 7. Julia was in the same room but has no memories of the kidnapping. She has been trying to find her brother ever since. Now Julia’s con man Father has showed up after disappearing 30 years ago. Her Father has enemies and Julia is now a target. When he disappeared her Father stole something very valuable from some very dangerous people who will stop at nothing to get it back.

I wasn’t aware this book was the third in a series so obviously it can be read as a stand alone. The book grabbed me right from the first page. Just as the bad guys won’t stop, neither will Julia. Her family situation as a child wasn’t good and even tho her brother was only 9 when he was taken, he looked out for her. Julia feels like she owes it to him to find out the truth about what happened, but the closer she gets to the truth the more danger she is in. There are lots of twists in this story and you don’t know which direction to turn or who to trust. I figured out part of it but was completely caught off guard by another twist to the story. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy for a fair and honest review.

Worth Killing For by Jane Haseldine is a highly recommended suspenseful, tense mystery and the third book in the Julia Gooden series.

Detroit newspaper reporter Julia Gooden's editor assigns her to cover the bow-and-arrow murder of Angel Perez, a college student. Detective Raymond Navarro's partner informs Julia that there were similar crimes in the past and this may be indicative of a serial killing becoming active again. After leaving the scene, Julia is shocked when she sees her estranged father at a gas station and she immediately begins looking for him in hopes of discovering answers to explain her brother Ben's abduction that occurred three decades earlier when he was nine and she was only seven years old. At that time her father, Duke Gooden, was a con man and her mother, Marjorie, was an alcoholic. Both parents left separately, Ben disappeared, and Julia and her older sister, Sarah, were thrown into the system.

Julia is sure that Duke's return means she will be able to find new clues to Ben's disappearance. But Duke is back to collect something valuable he's hidden in the area, and there are dangerous men who know he is back and are also looking for him. Now Julia is right in the line of fire for these nefarious characters who would kill her, or her sons, to punish Duke. Additionally, the investigation may jeopardize her burgeoning relationship with Navarro.

From the opening of this well-written, suspenseful novel, we know that Ben's disappearance has a connection to Angel's murder, but it is unclear if Duke's return can provide any information or just cause Julia even more pain and vulnerability. The mystery that unfolds is complex, twisty, and treacherous. Threats seem to be around every corner and the path to the truth is obscure and complicated, full of murder and revenge. Haseldine keeps the pace moving quickly along as more information and new leads are found, which will keep you engaged and invested in Julia's investigation and what she unearths.

Worth Killing For will hold your attention from beginning to end. While this is the third novel in a series, don't hesitate to read Worth Killing For. I haven't read the first two novels and felt like enough background information was provided so that I didn't feel like I was missing a piece of the story.

Disclosure: I received an advanced reading copy of this book from Kensington and TLC Book Tours.
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Worth Killing For is a worthy follow-up to the first two Julia Gooden mysteries from Jane Haseldine, the Last Time She Saw Him and Duplicity. Worth Killing For is an entertaining thriller, at the heart of which is Julia, an empathetic protagonist to whom, as her oldest son puts its, “stuff always seems to keep happening.” It is impossible not to cheer for Julia, her young sons, their cantankerous but loyal housekeeper and nanny, Helen, not to mention the devoted Detective Navarro. Julia is driven to finally resolve the case of her missing brother, Ben, who was abducted from the bedroom she shared with him when he was just 9 years old and Julia was 7. The kidnapping occurred shortly after their conman father, Duke, abandoned the family and it isn't long until their mother is gone, as well. Julie and her older sister, Sarah, take entirely divergent paths in life and have been estranged for some time. But as Julia investigates the bizarre murder of a local politician's nephew, a chance encounter dredges up feelings she has carried for 30 years about Ben, his disappearance, and her long-held suspicion that their father could have played a part in Ben's kidnapping. Julia, a tenacious reporter, embarks on a dangerous, fast-paced quest to learn the truth and finally either bring Ben home, if he is still alive, or come to terms with what actually happened to him. Worth Killing For is definitely worth reading.

I absolutely loved this book! Julia Gooden is one of my favorite literary characters... she's human, flawed, desperate to solve the past, trying to be a great Mom for her boys -- and in love. This book is loaded with action and so many twists and turns... it covers a difficult topic and does so with grace and honor. The relationship between Julia and Ray is true - the reader can understand her dilemma whilst trying to say true to herself and her story, along with maintaining her relationship and family. This book is easily one of my favorites - and I can't wait to read more from the author!

Had to dry my tears before I could write a review. The brutal murder in the first chapter almost had me quit reading. But then I had to keep reading, faster and faster, so this evil person could be stopped. Interesting family issues.

This is the first in the series and while it is number 3 it can be read as a stand alone novel as well.

The Author has the ability to keep readers engaged with a mystery that keeps readers wondering who is the con man and what happened to her brother.

Jane Haseldine has the ability to write a story that pulls at readers heart string while keeping them on their toes as the Julia digs deeper into her past.

Readers will not want to put this book down.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Kensington Publisher for the advance copy of Worth Killing For By Jane Haseldine for my honest review.

This is the third Julia Gooden mystery. 

Julia is a crime reporter. She sees things every day that haunt her. Not the least of which is her own childhood. A con man father who abandons them, a mother who climbs into a bottle and neglects her children. And the most haunting of all, the disappearance of her brother Ben when she was 7 and he was 9. He was more that a brother. He was her protector, her person.

After the drama of everything that has happened to this point, Julia has found a man who she loves and trusts. Her two sons are still raw from the death of their father and his secrets. But with help from a new love and a few good friends, they're getting by.

When Julia starts investigating the murder of a young man, the nephew of a city councilman, she uncovers a string of murders that all look the same and suddenly her very life as well as her children's are in danger.

And after 30 years her father has slithered back on the scene, setting them all up to be murdered unless Julia can figure out what really happened all those years ago and what really happened to Ben.

I really enjoy these Julia Gooden mysteries. She is such a strong, intelligent woman and at the same time such a loving and capable mother. 

This is a must read!

NetGalley/March 27th 2018 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I did enjoyed it, but I didn't. like it is the THIRD in a series. I should have know that by looking this up on GR but I didn't because the cover and blurb sang to me. I found the story well written.There were no cliff hanger, which, is something that I really enjoyed about this book. unfortunately if I were to be asked about this one in the future, I would probably have forgotten about it by then, It had nothing that Wowed me to remember it. Does that make sense?

Tense, smart and plot with a twist that makes sense. I liked that Julie worked wit the police instead of some characters having a me against them attitude. The point was solving the case. Not ‘I’m smarter than you’

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I enjoyed it. Very well written romantic suspense and a close knit family. There were no cliff hanging endings, which, is something that I really enjoyed about this book

From the turn of the first page this novel immediately grabbed my attention and I could not put this book down until the last page was read. The author has a way with the narrative visually putting me in the middle of all the action as I felt Julia’s trepidation of seeing her past, mainly her father, appears right in front of her eyes. Why is he here? What does he know about her brother’s disappearance. Is it a coincidence that the players involved in the murder case Julia is investigating may be connected to her father’s return? In this grippingly intriguing tale, we are taken on an emotional roller coaster ride that starts out slow but then packs a wallop when it all comes together. As this book comes to its conclusion, the tempo reaches a crescendo pitch when Julia learns the truth about what happened long ago, the revelation was a surprising twist that I did not see coming. All the main character had pivotal roles that enhanced the telling of this fast-paced drama that rocks everything to its core. This is the best book in this terrific series and I hope there are more stories left to be told with Julia, Navarro and their friends.

Jane Gooden overcame a dark and tragic childhood to go on to become a successful reporter with two sons and a new relationship with a handsome police detective. But all Jane’s efforts to overcome her past are in disarray when her father, absent for thirty years turns up on her doorstep. Duke Gooden was never a good man or a good father, and Jane is not pleased to see him now, but she holds out hope that he may know what happened to her brother Ben all those years ago. Not even a month after her father left, Ben, her nine-year old brother, disappeared. Could Duke have information about what happened to Ben? But other people are looking for Duke, people he conned years ago, and they want revenge. Haseldine creates realistic characters and then drops them in impossible situations to see how they react. Highly recommended