Justice for Jessica by Alretha Thomas – a Review

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Description:
Mousey, overweight Stacey Sullivan would love to trade places with her glamorous socialite BFF, Jessica James—that’s until she discovers Jessica murdered in her own home. Whip-smart detective Rachel Storme is ready to exchange her gun and badge for a gardener’s hat and hoe. But she reluctantly puts her plans on hold when she’s asked to help solve Jessica’s murder. These two strangers from different generations—Stacey a millennial and Rachel a baby boomer—become unlikely friends in their pursuit of JUSTICE FOR JESSICA. But their friendship is put to the test when Stacey insists that her husband, Matt, is innocent in spite of evidence that speaks to the contrary. Rachel, baffled by Stacey’s blind loyalty to Matt, doggedly fights to take Matt down, but with Stacey’s help, he eludes her at every turn. Is Matt the killer or could Grant, Jessica’s husband, be the culprit? Perhaps it was her jealous sister, Georgette or the maid, Rosa? No matter who the killer is, Rachel, by any means necessary, is determined to find her man or woman.

Review:

Stacey Sullivan met Jessica James in high school and they have been best friends ever since.  Stacey had stayed overnight with Jessica, which she did a lot when Jessica’s husband was out of town.  When Stacey woke that morning, she dreaded heading in to work, but knew she had to get a move on.  When she didn’t hear Jessica stirring, she went in search of her, and made a horrible discovery.  Jessica was in the guest room with her throat slit and lying in a pool of her own blood.  Stacey screams for help as Rosa, Jessica’s maid, arrives for work.  They call 911 and know things will never be the same.

As Rachel Storme is home pondering her life, she answers a call from her boss at the police department.  Although she’s on leave, her boss knows her all too well.  He fills her in on the Jessica James murder and pleads with her to help with the high profile investigation.  After a few minutes, she finally gives in and heads over to the James place to meet him.  Once they arrive and survey the scene, they set to work trying to figure out what in the world has happened.

Rachel is the one who interviews Stacey and almost immediately feels a connection with her.  She sees herself in Stacey twenty years ago.  As the interview progresses, she knows that Stacey isn’t the murderer and she promises Stacey that she will work hard to find who killed her best friend.  Rachel dives into the investigation with her boss and as they navigate all of the twists and turns and possible motives and suspects, they hit a few road blocks here and there.  But as they start to try and put things together, Rachel can’t help but wonder if they will truly find the murderer, and indeed, find justice for Jessica.

Justice for Jessica is another nice story from Alretha Thomas.  Told from several first person POVs, which is a trade mark of Thomas, we are privy to what’s going on with a lot of the main characters and their thought processes as everyone tries to do what they feel is the right thing.  Stacey Sullivan is a wonderfully written character.  In the beginning, she is a bit timid and a lot naïve, but is finally strong enough to do what needs to be done.  When she finds out that Jessica wasn’t quite as good a friend as she thought, she really did buck up and do what needed to be done.   Rachel Storme is an awesome character as well.  She’s smart, savvy and a hard worker, as well as a devoted daughter and friend.  The cast of supporting characters were well written and kept you guessing until the very end.  Justice for Jessica is, of course, a murder mystery, but it is also a story about facing up to life’s challenges and making your own dreams come true.  If you’re looking for a good mystery and a quick read, you cannot go wrong with Justice for Jessica.  Well done, Alretha Thomas!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Author