I received this book from the publishers via Netgalley for a review. This is a quick read. A very good novella grabs you from start to finish with Jeffrey Dealer's twist at the end.

Jon Talbert is convinced his wife’s car accident, in which she died,, was in fact murder and he sets out to prove this. The local police are going along with him but soon the tables turn and they point the finger at him. Then there is the mysterious man who was at the funeral and it seems just maybe his wife was having an affair with him.
Deaver has packed a lot into this short story and although I found the first half quite riveting, the ending didn’t appeal to me.. maybe it’s the short story thing where everything gets wrapped up quite quickly.
#netgalley #causeof death

EXCERPT: The man identifies himself as the county medical examiner. After we sit, he assumes the same forward-leaning angle as the counsellor. He withdraws two photographs from a file folder, asking me if they are of my wife, Patience Susan Addison. Here, in Martinsville County, Massachusetts, one doesn't identify the corpse itself by looking at the body in a file cabinet tray, the way it works in TV shows and perhaps other jurisdictions.

The pictures are color printouts, four-by-fives. Maybe they've discovered that larger pictures are more likely to ignite hysteria.

I look at the heart-shaped face, her eyes closed, complexion understandably paler than when she was among the living. There are no scars or bruises. She died of a broken neck. A different camera angle would have revealed that, I know.

I regard a second photograph. The tattoo of a ginkgo leaf on her ankle.

'Yes. That's her.'

ABOUT 'CAUSE OF DEATH': Jon Talbot is a history professor who makes sense of the past by examining facts. He also knows how to speculate about the what-ifs. Jon’s doing both following the death of his wife, Pax. Driving home late from a volunteer assignment, she plunged off a mountain highway and died. The police find nothing suspicious about the facts: a deer in the road, a blown tire, a broken neck. But the what-ifs are leading Jon down a twisting trail of secrets. After five years of marriage, he is finally getting to know his wife.

MY THOUGHTS: Jeffery Deaver has written a gripping short story about a history professor investigating his wife's death. Unusually for a short story, the main characters are really well fleshed out. Jon Talbot deals with life the same way he teaches history: in microscopic pieces. And he uses the same method to investigate the death of his wife, even though the police have ruled it accidental, when he discovers a few inconsistencies, such as a burner phone. Why would an aid worker need a burner phone?

Cause of Death is gripping, exciting, entertaining and tense. I enjoyed getting to know Jon, and through him, his wife.

A highly recommended one-sitting read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.4

#CauseofDeath #NetGalley

I: @officialjefferydeaver #amazonoriginalstories

T: @JefferyDeaver #AmazonOriginalStories

#contemporaryfiction #crime #domesticdrama #mystery #shortstory

THE AUTHOR: Jeffery Deaver is an international number-one bestselling author. His novels have appeared on bestseller lists around the world. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into twenty-five languages. He has served two terms as president of Mystery Writers of America, and was recently named a Grand Master of MWA, whose ranks include Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen, Mary Higgins Clark and Walter Mosely.

The author of more than forty novels, three collections of short stories and a nonfiction law book, and a lyricist of a country-western album, he’s received or been shortlisted for dozens of awards.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Original Stories via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Cause of Death by Jeffery Deaver for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Instagram, Amazon and my webpage

When Jon Talbot’s wife dies in a single-car crash, at first look, it seems like a simple accident, tragic of course but not suspicious. However, something doesn’t seem right to Jon, especially after he realizes her phone and laptop are not among her possessions returned to him by the police. He begins to investigate on his own and the more he looks, the more he wonders if he ever really knew the woman he had been married to for all those years.

One thing you can be sure of with a Jeffery Deaver novel - it will grab you from the first page and never let you go right until the last sentence and the short story, Cause of Death, is no exception. Another high-octane unputdownable thriller from a true master of the genre.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

When I pick up a book by Jeffery Deaver I know I will be entertained. And he did not disappoint. How well do you really know your spouse? When his wife dies Jon questions what he is told. He gets involved and discovers his wife was not what he thought. We all have secrets. Can you accept what you find out? Excellent story!

Another great short by Jeffrey Deaver. I felt this story from both sides-the one who passed and the one left behind.

Jon Talbot, a history professor arrives at a medical examiner's office to identify a body. His wife Pax was killed in an automobile accident after going off a mountain slope at high speed. After the funeral, her possessions are returned to Jon, but he notices that her phone and computer are missing. Jon and a deputy went to the scene to see if they can locate her belongings, but what they saw lead to more questions.

This is one of the best short stories I've read in a long time! I don't know how Deaver does it, but this little gem is filled with suspense, a good twist, and has a strong lead character. I hope to read more like this, highly recommend it!

I love it when Deaver releases his short stories. They fill the gap nicely in between the Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw books.

The story was intriguing and gripped me from the get-go… and just when you think it’s all solved there’s a twist. This is a familiar trait of these short stories, and part of the reason that I love them so much. I always try to figure out the zany twist that is coming.

In this case, the ending did seem a bit more out-there than I’m used to, however it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story.

Jon Talbot has been notified that his wife died in a car accident. Things are not always as they seem though. He sees a man he does not know at the funeral and then some other clues that don't add up. He approaches the accident as he does his work as a history professor, just following the clues where they lead him. Not a very long story and a great read.

Brilliant quick read from this talented writer.
I love the author’s Lincoln Rhyme series and this short story has all the same brilliant twists and turns

This story follows Jon Talbot, a history professor, in the days following his wife's death. Professor Talbot is so observant that he is almost an amateur detective, and a few things have him wondering if there might be have been something else going on that contributed to his wife's car accident...

I have enjoyed every Deaver short story that I've read so far, and this one didn't disappoint either. We get a thrilling ride, chasing down evidence through the eyes of an unusually observant historian; a solid mystery story, twists and unexpected revelations, and even a surprisingly satisfying ending. The fact that Deaver was able to pack all of this into such a short story is amazing, he is definitely one of my favorite authors. I hope he writes another story for Amazon soon.

Wow what a brilliant quick read! The story pulled me in from the start and I read in one sitting. I enjoyed the angle of the husband investing the crime as I like to think of myself as an amateur detective 🤣

This is perfect for those of you who love fast pace fiction that doesn’t get bogged down in the details but gives you enough to believe the story line.

A great twisty read that I would recommend to crime fans, I will definitely be checking out more from this author.

This book is short and sweet but perfectly formed. It makes you wonder why some books have to be 600 - 700 pages long! This is the second novella I’ve read from this author and, like the first, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It had a starter, a main and a very sweet dessert. Some might find it a little far fetched but I’m sure it must happen. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for letting me read and review this book.

When I learned Cause of Death is a short story, I was disappointed because I thought it would be a full blown novel into which I could escape. I relish reading the writings of Mr, Deaver and was looking forward to a few days of an intriguing storyline to enjoy. Instead, I had a few hours to enjoy this unique storyline! Mr, Deaver is the consummate story teller. Cause of Death offers an original plot, a complex mystery ( which you won’t figure out ahead of time), a well developed, likeable protagonist, an exciting and suspenseful climax, and a superb denouement. The twist at the end is icing on the cake! The twist at the end! Wow! Very satisfying indeed!

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an advanced copy of this top notch mystery!

A fast paced gem, I loved the storyline, characters and theme of this book. The story flowed, a great detective whodunnit with plenty of substance and the characters were relatable.
I felt for Jon and hoped that he would resolve the mystery surrounding his wife Pax’s car accident. Jon’s detective work reveals a lot about Pax that he didn’t know, his wife lived an intriguing double life!
A wonderful mystery short story to enjoy!

Thanks to NetGalley and Jeffery Deaver for the opportunity to read this book, loved it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Meh. I’ll be honest this plot was a bit of a stretch. I’m not sure the story worked well in a short format. The ending felt forced and stuff. At least it was a quick read.

This is a Jeffery Deaver short story. I truly enjoyed this book. It’s a fast and easy read. I was guessing from beginning to end. It held my attention and even though it’s a short story, it was worth the read! I’ve never read any of Jeffery Denver’s books but I believe I will after reading this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for and honest review. All views expressed are entirely my own.

Cause of Death is a riveting 77-page standalone domestic suspense novella set in Martinsville, Massachusetts and asks the question: how well do you really know your spouse or significant other? History professor Jon Talbot is currently grieving the accidental death of his wife of 5 years, Patience "Pax" Susan Addison, who was a well-known charity employee, philanthropist and volunteer. She had seemingly been driving home in the dark from a placement where she had been volunteering her time when she hit a deer in what has been deemed by all involved as a tragic road traffic collision along Route 420 on Palmer Mountain. But there are too many discrepancies for Jon to believe it was a mere accident; her laptop and mobile phone are missing, the accident scene doesn't mesh with what he had imagined and not to mention the complete stranger who attended her funeral and lurked around behind everyone else looking decidedly uncomfortable. When Detective Roland Briggs calls around the house looking to nab Pax’s missing technology, this is all that is needed to fully convince Jon that there is a rabbit off somewhere and that he was right to be suspicious. Why is a detective on the case if this was as simple and sad as an everyday traffic incident?

Jon sets up a chat with local Deputy Terry Garner of Martinsville County Public Safety hoping he can allay his fears about Pax being murdered, which he tries to at first, but when he considers the details more closely, he too concludes that all is not what it seems. Evidence at the scene of the accident and anomalies don't leave any other option but that of foul play. It then emerges that another body, and likely another murder, has been discovered and Jon finds himself in a perilous situation. As if all that wasn't enough to have on his plate, there is also a suspicious-looking drowning death revealed by the county police. As Jon reads through reams and reams of personal documents and papers in Pax’s old study he comes across aspects of her life he had no idea about. Does he want to know the real truth about his wife? Was she having an affair, or was it something else? This is a compulsive and enthralling short story and despite its brevity, it packs in ample action, drama, danger, secrets, wicked twists and red herrings and plenty of palpable suspense with a surprisingly well-developed cast of engaging characters. It's engrossing, thoroughly entertaining and will keep you guessing from beginning until end. Highly recommended.

Cause of Death by Jeffrey Deaver is an interesting story about Jon, an asper-esque history professor. He examines the past by studying the known facts and is able to speculate about the unknowns. Following the death of his wife, Pax, he finds himself doing both. She was on her way home from a volunteer gig when she veered off the road and plummeted down a mountain and died. The police rule it an accident but a deer in the road, a blown tire and a broken neck only lead to more questions for Jon. Soon he finds himself uncovering a trail of too many unknowns. After several years together, he suspects that he is finally getting to know the real Pax. While I enjoyed the book, it was somewhat long-winded and plodding throughout. I'm guessing all those details are what have made this author's books such great screenplays, though.

One of the biggest problems with short stories is that there is never enough time to really develop the characters and I really felt that with this one. Deaver is obviously a popular author and skilled at writing in the crime genre, but, despite the fact that he masterfully develops a story where the reader does not know if the MC is the murderer or not, because I had no feelings for him, I did not care.

My lack of attachment, plus the fact that the story veers into the unreal at the end, diminished it for me and I can only say I liked it but did not love it. Worth reading but I probably will not remember it.