COVEY AND JAYJAY
GET EDUCATED
Audio Book Tour
By Shelton L. Williams
By Shelton L. Williams
Narrated by Kathy James
Covey Jencks Mysteries, Book 2
Genre: Murder Mystery / Social Thriller / Amateur Sleuth
Publisher: Audible
Length: 5 hours, 40 minutes
Publication Date: March 18, 2020
Genre: Murder Mystery / Social Thriller / Amateur Sleuth
Publisher: Audible
Length: 5 hours, 40 minutes
Publication Date: March 18, 2020
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Amateur detectives Covey Jencks and JayJay Qualls are drawn into a triple murder on the campus of Baker College in West Waverly in the Texas Hill Country. Both end up taking positions at the college: Covey as an adjunct instructor and JayJay as a visiting actor.
Initially they believe that money is the motive for the murders, but over time they learn that the college is a cauldron of political and social intrigue. The college’s new president and his beautiful wife, various staff members, a prominent trustee, and parties not associated with the college have the motives, opportunities, and wacky agendas that might implicate them in the murders. It turns out that a white nationalist group may be using a college house for its nefarious activities, but are they more talk than action?
The West Waverly police are little to no help in the investigation, and Covey himself has to depart the college to deal with his father’s death. JayJay takes over and makes a critical breakthrough. Upon Covey’s return, the couple must rely on deception, a bit of luck, and martial arts skills to solve the crimes and to try to prevent a high-profile assassination.
Books have been keeping me sane lately. (Furlough is the pits.) I’ve been tearing through all types of books lately, but especially audio books. Audio books have always been a great distraction for me while exercising and Covey and JayJay Get Educated was fantastic at providing me something else to focus on while I put one foot in front of the other. It’s not too long (under 6 hours); the narration is easy on the ears; and there is some mystery, some history, and some whimsy.
Covey and JayJay Get Educated is set in 1996/1997 but could easily take place today. I found I had to often remind myself that Covey and JayJay aren’t traipsing through Texas in 2020! (The Yahoo and AltaVista comments from law office manager M.A. does offer a hilarious reminder of the past!) Some of the plot points which could easily be topics in books set today include white nationalism, bigotry, homophobia, and protesting by college students.
The novel is enjoyable to read. Mr. Williams is skillful with his plotting, interspersing murder and history throughout the novel. The various mystery plots are full of red herrings as well. I fell for every mis-direct and had no idea who the killer (or killers!?!) were by the end of the novel. The story is told from both Covey’s and JayJay’s points of view. Seeing the story unfold from both characters really enhances the novel. JayJay’s chapters are some of my favorite in the novel. Her point of view is just as crucial to the story as Covey’s. She is funny and honest and tells it like it is. She even has some serious self-defense skills!
Of the two main characters, I honestly identify with Covey’s character. Not so much the lawyer part, but his personality is a sure match for mine. I love his groan-worthy dad jokes and his thoughts on cell phones and e-books, Covey says:
What an outrageous idea! I want a book or a newspaper in my hands. I want ink stains, corners to fold down, and bookshelves to fill.
I completely remember thinking the same thing about e-books when I first heard about them. Who wants to read on a digital format when you could have a physical book? Hopefully by now, like me, Covey has come around to the wonder that is carrying around hundreds of books on your phone!
While it is not necessary to read the first novel in the series to read the second, do yourself a favor and check out both books! (Read my review of the first book in the series here.) I highly recommend Covey and JayJay Get Educated for anyone looking for some amateur sleuthing and first-rate plotting.
About the Narration: This is my first time listening to Ms. James’s narration. Her reading is clear and concise. The dialog between characters is somewhat clipped. However, this made it easier to differentiate the dialog from the remainder of the novel. Covey and JayJay have distinct voices. The secondary characters were not as easy to distinguish, but I did not have any issues understanding or following along with the story. The audio production is clean with no technical issues.
I read the first novel in the series and listened to the second novel. Both modes of reading worked for me. Pick one or the other (or both!) when checking out this series for yourself.
I received Covey and JayJay Get Educated free in exchange for my honest review. Thanks to author Shelton L. Williams, narrator Kathy James, and Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing this opportunity.
Shelton L. Williams (Shelly) is founder and president of the Osgood Center for International Studies in Washington, DC. He holds a PhD from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and he taught for nearly forty years at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. He has served in the US Government on four occasions, and he has written books and articles on nuclear proliferation. In 2004 he began a new career of writing books on crime and society. Those books are Washed in the Blood, Summer of 66, and now the Covey Jencks series. All firmly prove that he is still a Texan at heart.
Kathy James. My first part time job while I was in high school was announcing at the local radio station, and I had fun being “on the air” and using my sarcastic sense of humor. I worked in the radio business for more than twenty years. My favorite pastimes are teaching figure skating, getting lost in a great book, and watching movies. I narrate and produce audio books in my home studio, and I truly enjoy bringing an author’s characters to life with an audio book. I currently reside in Minnesota with my slightly overweight cat and two childlike golden retrievers.
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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
THREE WINNERS!
FIRST PRIZE: Audio books of Covey Jencks, Covey and JayJay Get Educated, and Washed In the Blood
FIRST PRIZE: Audio books of Covey Jencks, Covey and JayJay Get Educated, and Washed In the Blood
SECOND PRIZE: Both Covey Jencks books in Kindle editions
THIRD PRIZE: Covey and JayJay Get Educated in Kindle edition
MAY 7-16, 2020
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great review! it is really interesting how this book could easily be contemporary instead of in the ’90s. Sadly, so many of those same issues are still around. Thanks for the post.
thanks, Kristine!
Dad jokes indeed! Thank you.
Thanks, Shelton! I love a good dad joke!