In the Belly of Jonah: A Liv Bergen Mystery

In the Belly of Jonah is a shockingly gruesome mystery. When a serial killer hits too close to home for our new heroine by brutally murdering one of her employees, Liv Bergen starts investigating. She's smart, tough, and smooth enough to be able to look into the murders in a way that makes her an asset rather than a nuisance to the official FBI investigation. Liv is a manager of a mining company, which means the book contains a pretty decent amount of information on the topic. Mining is something I knew absolutely nothing about and I didn't believe it could ever be made interesting. Sandra Brannan did just that, explaining bits and pieces of the industry in relation to the case, without ever venturing into dull, jargon-filled territory. And nonbelievers, don't let the title scare you. In the Belly of Jonah contains some religious references, but there is no actual religious focus in the book. The mystery and resulting investigation were extremely well done. The murders are really bizarre. The descriptions are graphic, with nothing held beck. It may be too much for some, but I loved the horrific realness of it. It's gets under your skin, making you uncomfortable, but puts you right there in the action. A constant back and forth between two suspects made it impossible to tell who the actual killer was until the very end. I changed my mind multiple times, finally giving up so I could enjoy the thrills without second guessing myself. Liv's a young, hard-working, single woman, so I was surprised and pleased to find In the Belly of Jonah didn't rush her into a romance. I have high hopes for a relationship between Liv and FBI agent Streeter Pierce to develop in future books and this book sets that possibility up perfectly. There aren't many authors today that can create tension between characters that haven't even really met yet, but Brannan manages to make you impatiently excited for when they do finally come together. In the Belly of Jonah is the best mystery I've read in quite a while. It has everything I hope to find in new series - a strong female main character, a strange and disturbing serial killer and the promise of exciting investigations in the future. This is definitely a must read for anyone who likes their mysteries with a little edge.

I'm an avid reader of the mystery/thriller genre and I just read "In the Belly of Jonah" - I LOVED IT! The main character of "In the Belly of Jonah" is a smart, young, independent, irreverent and very spunky woman named Liv Bergen who runs a limestone mine near Fort Collins, Colorado. Liv gets caught up in solving a murder investigation when she discovers the body of a summer intern (who worked for her in the mine) with a "window" cut into her body. The reader discovers who the killer is relatively early in the book and this "inside knowledge" keeps you on the edge of your seat as Liv and the investigative team try to solve the murder. There are also some unexpected twists and turns that added to the excitement. I especially got a kick out of Liv's sense of humor, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Ms. Brannan further develops Liv (her eight siblings call her "Boots") in the 2nd book of the Liv Bergen mystery series. Sandra Brannan, is a relatively new author to the Mystery/Thriller genre so I was intrigued and did a little research after I read her book. This is her first novel in the Liv Bergen series, and it has already grabbed the attention of Independent Booksellers across the US (a pretty good indication of a great book!). "In the Belly of Jonah" was recently named as a notable in the Mystery/Thriller genre for the Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association. "In the Belly of Jonah" is a fast-paced, real page-turning thriller that was hard for me to put down. I simply loved it and would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great mystery! Enjoy! LEALS

An intense, gritty, suspense ride to a towering climax; prepare to finish In The Belly of Jonah in one setting, yes it's that good! Brannan's authentic characters, plot, and humor will have you sharing In The Belly of Jonah with your friends as you impatiently wait for the next Liv Bergen chronicle to be published. A brilliant read on a cross-country flight, a snow day, or any day when you want action, wit and story to leave you satisfied!