TLC Book Tours – Worth Killing For by Jane Haseldine

Not only is it a big release day today, but it’s also book tour day 🙂

Thanks to Kensington Books and TLC Book Tours for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

WORTH KILLING FOR – Jane Haseldine (out now!)

This is book three in the Julia Gooden series.

Book Description:

Detroit newspaper reporter Julia Gooden returns in new mystery, where a brutal murder and a father’s sudden return may provide the answers she’s spent decades searching for . . . or lead deep into a fatal trap.

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.

But now, after three decades of absence, Julia’s conman father has resurfaced to throw her life into turmoil again. Julia was only seven when Duke Gooden abruptly left. Barely a month later, her nine-year-old brother, Ben, disappeared. Ben was her hero and protector, and though the case is cold, Julia has never given up hope of finding him. Duke’s return offers vital clues–but it also makes her a target of those who intend to see Duke punished for his many sins.

When Julia investigates the death of a city councilman’s young nephew, she finds links to a string of other murders . . . and to a web of greed and kidnapping that stretches back decades. At long last, Julia may be able to discover what happened to Ben all those years ago, but only if she’s willing to risk everything in her present.

My Thoughts: 4.5/5 stars!

It seems that lately I haven’t been very good at starting series when I should and I end up jumping in wherever I can. However, for WORTH KILLING FOR by Jane Haseldine, I’ve actually read one of the other books in the series! Last year I read book two, DUPLICITY, in the Julia Gooden series, and I loved it. I still haven’t read the first book in the series, but I’m loving the continuation!

Typically in crime fiction novels we get to see strictly through the perspective of the investigating police officers, or the agents that are tryng to solve the case. Here, we follow Julia Gooden, a journalist. This brings a refreshing angle to the crime fiction genre! Haseldine’s background and experience as a former crime reporter shines through in this novel. I feel like we got some extra insight that we may not have gotten otherwise.

Julia Gooden finds herself pulled into a new case. 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. Is there a potential link to her little brother’s disappearance all those years ago? How far is she willing to go to find out the truth?

I think that you could read this one as a standalone just fine without missing out on too much. I would recommend picking up DUPLICITY though and get to know our fantastic lead, Julia. Haseldine has created a solid female lead – she’s flawed, authentic, and just won’t quit. I felt that she was incredibly relatable and you really feel for her when it comes to the struggle of wanting to know what happened to her brother.

Overall, I would recommend starting the Julia Gooden series! It’s a refreshing perspective with a strong female lead. I can’t wait for more with this series.

About the Author:

Jane Haseldine writes the Julia Gooden Mystery Series for Kensington Publishing. Jane is a journalist and former crime reporter who also previously worked in politics as a deputy director of communications for a governor. Jane graduated from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with a degree in journalism. She currently resides in Southern California with her husband and two sons, but previously lived in Boston, San Francisco, New York, Delaware, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana.

You can find her at janehaseldine.com, Twitter, Goodreads, Facebookand on Instagram @janehaseldineauthor.

Where to Purchase A Copy: