#BookBeginnings Lives Laid Away by Stephen Mack Jones

Today I’m starting a book set in Detroit, Michigan: Lives Laid Away by Stephen Mack Jones for Book Beginnings on Fridays.

Book Beginnings is a fun meme hosted by Rose City Reader blog. To participate, share the first sentence or so of a novel you are reading and your thoughts about it. When you are finished, add your URL to the Book Beginnings page linked above. Hope to see you there!

 

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Lives Laid Away by Stephen Mack Jones

(*Amazon Affiliate link)

Summary:  Detroit ex-cop August Snow spends his time renovating houses in a neighborhood called Mexicantown. After a young girl from the community is found dead,  Snow discovers she was last seen alive during an ICE raid. Soon he is embroiled in a violent campaign to prevent the perpetrators from acting again.

First Sentence:

Her secret ingredient was nutmeg.

Not a lot — maybe half teaspoon or less — but she got the same complex undercurrent effect that she would have with smoked East Indian paprika or authentic Mexican chili powder.

Discussion:

I read some reviews of this novel that suggested it has a lot of violence, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with the beginning. In fact, I really like the description. I want to know who “she” is and also what exactly the narrator is making.

What do you think? Have you read a book by Stephen Mack Jones? Would you read this one?

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Aside:  I have website that lists children’s books set in 50 different states, and thought it might be fun to try the same thing with mysteries. I already have three mystery series set in Arizona. Do you have any suggestions for others?

11 Comments

  1. Laurel-Rain Snow

    A timely topic! Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.

    • Roberta

      It is interesting about the timeliness if you consider it can take a couple of years for a book to be written, edited and published.

  2. Anne@Headfullofbooks

    My secret ingredient in lasagna is nutmeg. So now it isn’t a secret. My Friday quotes

    • Roberta

      I won’t tell anyone your secret.
      I tend to neglect nutmeg. Maybe it is time to explore its potential.

  3. Catherine @ Book Club Librarian

    Can’t remember the last time (if ever) I’ve read an opening line that is a cooking tip.

    • Roberta

      Especially a novel that doesn’t have food as a major component.

  4. Ashley S.

    Sounds like a compelling read. Thanks for sharing! Hope you have a great weekend! 🙂

  5. Julie

    Haha, the beginning does not go together with the blurb at all. Such opposites!

    • Roberta

      Exactly. If the beginning is a promise to the reader revealing what is coming next, this one is lying a bit, I think.

  6. Yvonne

    I haven’t read this author yet, but the book sounds really good.

  7. Nicki J. Markus

    Happy Reading. Hope you enjoy it.

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