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Rating: 
Summary: Ingenious and amusing metafiction
Review: Fitzwater again uses the story within a story. The murder suspect is found standing over the body of her ex-husband with the usual bloody weapon in hand. The detective is a mystery author wannabee and, aided by a writing group, considers ways to clear her, writing alternative solutions to the mystery as she goes along. The setting is Macon and Atlanta. The tone is light and humorous with about as minimal violence as a murder mystery can get away with and with a chaste and cosy romantic interest. Two good canine characters.
Rating: 
Summary: There's something good here . . .
Review: If "Dying to Get Even" was a dog, it would probably be a Labrador retriever: not too bright but bouncy and eager to please. Jennifer Marsh, like her name, is mired in her career as an unpublished writer. Her two books about distaff P.I. Maxie Malone have not sold, and while she's beginning her third novel, a friend of hers is caught in what may be considered a standard opening of a mystery. The wealthy ex-wife of the founder of an Atlanta chain of steak restaurants if found over his body of her ex-husband with her hand on the murder weapon. Since Jennifer was the first on the murder scene, her testimony could help convict her friend. Nervous and not at all like her fictional alter ego, Jennifer is one of mystery's more neurotic ladies. She's aided in her quest to find the real killer by the members of her writing group, who seem to reflect their particular genres. Their attempts to investigate the case complicates Jennifer's life a lot, as does the presence of two reporters, a boyfriend from the Atlanta newspaper, and a tabloid slimebag. In "Dying to Get Even" are the seeds of a very funny parody of genre writing. Jennifer finds herself in a Maxie Malone-type of case, only without her character's wits, skills and talent. At one point, the confirmed vegetarian also briefly runs one of the restaurants. It feels like Judy Fitzwater knows there's something funny about all this, and she's tosses Jennifer about in an attempt to find out. The story has the depth of a "Murder, She Wrote" episode, one can't be too hard on it. Jennifer and her friends are a genial bunch of girls -- their involvement in the case complicates matters mightily -- and one can't help rooting for them.
Rating:
Summary: A Saucy Tale
Review: Jennifer Marsh, part-time caterer and full time, trying to be but just ain't there yet mystery writer. Minding her own business, asleep in her bed, Jennifer is woken up by a phone call from Mae Belle, who's worried about Jennifer's friend, the elderly Emmie Walker (who was introduced in the first book of this series, "Dying to Get Published). Emmie went out that night and hasn't come back, and it's 3:00 am. From that phone call Jennifer finds herself smack in the middle of another mystery. She finds Emmie, but unfortunately, the lady is holding a knife, by the pool, where her ex-husband, Edgar Walker, owner of Edgar's Down Home Grill, is floating, dead in the water. Who would want Edgar Walker dead? Was Emmie still angry over Edgar divorcing her for a younger woman a decade before? She insists she dumped Edgar. What about Lisa his wife and manager of The Down Home Grill's? Maybe a disgruntled employee. Did it have anything to do with the new franchise agreements he was trying to set up? And what happened to Natalie Brewster, the woman who was working with Edgar on the franchises? She seems to have disappeared into thin air. And could Edgar have been killed over his special sauce, the recipe which only he knew and was the reason for the popularity of his restaurants and why they were going to be franchised.
It's up to Jennifer, with help from her sometimes boyfriend, reporter Sam Culpepper to solve this mystery before Emmie Walker spends her golden years in prison. Highlights: Jennifer's writers group. These women all work on different genre's and all very funny. Leigh Ann and Teri are a hoot, when they get jobs at the restaurant to try and hunt up some clues for Jennifer. Leigh Ann (who flirts with every one) being chased by a crazed waitress who thinks she's trying to steal her guy. Jennifer going to a Grill and trying to order anything without meat. (She's a vegetarian). Lowlights: I find some of the things Jennifer does, totally stupid. Although she doesn't do anything as dumb as she did in the last book, I don't think she actually solved this mystery. Only finding out who the killer is when they try to kill you isn't exactly solving the crime. Jennifer's writing. Several sections of Jennifer's new book are highlighted throughout the story and they are awful. I'd demand my money back if I got a book this bad. They're humorous to read because they're so bad, but I think we're supposed to take Jennifer as a serious and good writer. Overall not a great book but ok as a series to read while waiting for new books from your favorite authors.
Rating:
Summary: A great follow-up
Review: Judy Fitzwater's second Jennifer Marsh book hits a home run. The writing is as solid as her first book and she has added more depth to the characters - including Jennifer, her boyfriend (sort-of) Sam, Jaimie (her unborn and not yet conceived child) even her dog Muffy. Once again, Judy creates a wonderfully woven, light hearted mystery - full of angst and who-dunnit's. These characters just grow on you - I swear! Once again, we also get to enjoy the half baked plots and character's that Jennifer's writers group discusses at their weekly meetings. This time Jennifer gets woken up in the middle of the night to go "rescue" her eldery friend Emma Walker who is at her ex-husband's house playing pranks but has not returned home when she is supposed to. Jennifer arrives to find Emma's ex face down in the pool and Emma unconscious and holding the murder weapon - to make matters worse the current wife arrives with a gun and the police! Now Jennifer is their (unwilling) star witness - what can she do but go undercover to ferret out the truth. This series is a fun one. Just kick back, relax and enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: A good smystery series in the making
Review: Macon mystery writer Jennifer Marsh desperately wants to be published, which is why she enjoys investigating homicides that seem open and shut. Her latest real life sleuthing involves her good friend, elderly Emmie Walker, former spouse of Edgar, the owner of the Down Home Grill restaurant chain. When she arrives at Emma's Atlanta home, Jen notices two bodies floating in the swimming pool. Edgar lies dead while Emmie is unconscious, holding a bloodied knife. Forensics proves that the knife is the murder weapon used to kill the man. The Office of the Fulton County District Attorney believes that Emmie murdered her former husband. Jen disagrees and begins to do some sleuthing with the help of her boy friend and her critique group. Judy Fitzwater has written another fresh and humorous who-done-it, starring an amateur sleuth that is the epitome of the insecure aspiring mystery writer. The secondary characters are candid and in your face, adding color and red herrings to a strong story line. DYING TO GET EVEN is the second novel in what appears to be the beginning stages of a long running series. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: A Saucy Tale
Review: THE PLOT Jennifer Marsh is back with her reporter boyfriend. This time, her elder friend Emmie Walker is in trouble: Jennifer finds her standing next to the dead body of Edgar Walker, with the murder knife in her hand. WHAT I LIKED The rambling around by all of the characters is great. As usual, Jennifer's writing group throw themselves in to help her investigate all the goings-on at Edgar's Down Home Grill, complete with a special sauce that may be to-die-for. WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE The storyline jumps around a bit in time at the start. It might have read a lot better in normal linear fashion rather than the resulting stilted jumping. Its only the first few chapters though, so it doesn't overly hurt the story. OVERALL RATING 4.50 / 5.00 -- Even better than the first in the series!
Rating:
Summary: Love the Jennifer Marsh Series
Review: This is another great Jennifer Marsh mystery. Jennifer's elderly friend Emma is accused of murdering her ex-husband(well, she is found with the body with the murder weapon in her hand)and she asks Jennifer to take time from writing her unpublished murder mysteries to help find the real killer. The second wife is a prime suspect, as are all of the victims heirs,and his restaurant manager(what steakhouse manager makes $100,000 a year?)in addition to Emma. Jennifer and her writing group are hilarious in solving the mystery. Definitely worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Jennifer Marsh is a Winner
Review: When Jennifer Marsh, aspiring mystery writer, though still unpublished, gets a middle of the night phone call to help an elderly friend, she gets dressed, jumps in the car and heads over to the estate of Edgar Walker. Edgar is the very rich owner of the Down Home Grill steakhouses and unfortunately is floating, dead in the swimming pool. Lying unconscious on the patio and holding the bloody murder weapon is his ex-wife and Jennifer's dear friend, Emma. As the police arrive and chaos ensues, Emma is arrested for the murder of her ex and Jennifer Marsh becomes the prosecution's star witness. Now Jennifer, with the help of her writer's critique group is on a mission to solve the murder and clear Emma's name. Judy Fitzwater has written a charming, witty mystery full of great and often inept characters, that you'll be rooting for to the very end. Her writing is down to earth and easy to read, with irreverent dialogue and laugh out loud scenes. This is a light-hearted, page turner you'll easily finish in one sitting. So sit back, watch Jennifer and the gang work their magic and enjoy!
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