Our intrepid trio of investigators our trying to mind their own business after nearly losing their lives solving a murder. But the entire town seems determined to involve them when another murder occurs. Everyone wants to know who would stab, shoot, and poison nice Mrs. Beeson. So, it’s Jack, Sarah, and Kate on the case again, but can they keep up when the case goes sideways into an unexpected direction? This book keeps you reading to find out what happens and surprises to the end.

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2020 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2020/01/2020-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

I loved the first book in this series, this one not so much. The characters were still the same, but having read the first a hile ago, it was hard to pick up the pieces of who was who. A little synopsis woven in to give a hint as what had preceded would have made this book much more enjoyable for me. Still, and all, it's by Jude Deveraux which makes a good book.

A willing murder is a great book. A justified murder I don't know because they sent me a willing murder which I have already read.

The book I received was A Willing Murder not the second in the series. I purchased the second A Justified Murder and so far it is good.

Sara, Kate, and Jack are back in a new mystery. When Janet Beeson is stabbed, shot, and poisoned, everyone in town looks to the trio that solved the last big murder. But they aren't interested in helping. That's not what they do. But somehow, they are dragged into the story of a woman who was seemingly the most liked person in town. So who would want to kill her that bad?
This was a completely scattered book with parts of the story stuck in here and there and things said about characters that weren't backed up in the story... and yet Deveraux manages to charm. Sentence structure is odd and unnecessary asides are plentiful but I think people who enjoyed the first book will like this one as well.

Three stars
This book came out February 26th
ARC kindly provided by publisher and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

I have to say I read most of Jude Deveraux books. I have been her fan for years!. I mist say, I dont understand why such a great author would change genre from historical romance to suspense. Plese dont take me wrong the first book in the series "The Justified Murder" was fine, this one, the 2nd was well written too, but I still will say there is something there that is just not fitting for me. The plot is slower perhaps, or something is simply missing in her style that she switched to crime stories. I simply miss her old writing. Her creativity and her beautiful style. Why did she have to change the genre when she clearly is better in writing historical romance novels?
Also, please read. This series in order because the 2nd book will refer to 1st sometimes.

Jude Deveraux did an excellent job of transitioning from romance to mystery. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series

A Justified Murder by Jude Deveraux is both a thrilling mystery and a light hearted romance novel. This is the only book that I have read in Summerhouse series and I definitely want to read more. The novel revolves around Sara, Kate her niece who comes to live with her and Jack a contractor,who lives Sara. The three of them work to solve a murder that happened when Jack was 13.. The interesting plot moves quickly to its surprising ending..This thrilling mystery is fun to read and the dynamic relationships between Sara, Jack and Kate make it even better.

I swear I've already read this book. The plot, the characters, even the language used seemed eerily similar to other books I've read in the past. I got two chapters in and couldn't shake the feeling that either I'd read this before (because I could predict accurately what was going to happen next) OR it's so similar to everything else Ms Devereaux has written that it was starting to pull a Stephanie Plum (where the plot and the characters always stay the same, only the cover and Lula's cravings differ slightly).
Sad to say that this was a Did Not Finish for me, and I won't be recommending this to any of my library patrons.

Great mystery read! I have not read the first one of this series but I still very much enjoyed this one. I don't want to give too much away but this book was definitely engaging and I couldn't put it down. I would recommend it!

The small town of Lachlan, Florida, was rocked last year when two bodies were uncovered in the roots of a fallen tree. Despite their lack of investigative experience, Sara Medlar; her niece, Kate; and Jack Wyatt found themselves at the center of the mystery, working together to reveal the truth behind a decades-old secret in the sleepy town. After a narrow escape, they vowed to never again involve themselves in something so dangerous—until Janet Beeson is murdered.

For years I have wanted to read a book by Jude but I almost never read contemporary romances. Jude and I were in college together at Murray State, graduating in the same year. Then last year she wrote her first mystery and I was so excited. I got a copy right away and really enjoyed reading it. I was very excited to hear that it is a series and there will be more coming out. I mean after all, there has to be more developments between Jack and Kate.

This book drew me in from the horrific beginning right through the "Oh no" that was the last page ending. I really wasn't expecting that. But it was fitting. There were a lot of characters in the story and I did have a bit of a problem keeping them all straight. But I am sure that some of them will be in future books and we will become familiar with them. Maybe that's just me. One of the best things about her books is that they are very clean novels, ones I can recommend to all my friends. Yes, there is plenty of flirtation but she does show that good novels can be written without all the vulgar words and sex scenes that so many think are required to make a novel salable.

I especially like the introduction of Jack's twin cousins. I do hope they will make it into future books. They were really fun and I would like to see them help again in solving the crime. I really look forward to reading the next book in the series.

The book that I got was Willing Murder not Justified Murder so I can’t review it. I have ready read the first book in the series.