This is the first book in a new series. I had never heard of the author but picked it up on a free bookshelf because it looked interesting. I was pleasantly surprised by the book and it was fun having it take place in Ft Collins here in Colorado. I will read the next one. It is a mystery with a serial killer that poses his victims in poses imitating art. Interesting characters and killer. A good quick read which I like from time to time. ( )

"In the Belly of Jonah" ticks about all the boxes for stuff I dislike in a mystery. Too many POV (4), awkward writing, a prologue, sly religion, and, probably worst of all, villain monologueing (that's a wonderful word from The Incredibles). This is the first book in the series which expanded to #6 in June. Maybe the others are better as Ms Brannan settles into her voice. I'm not going to test that theory though.

I received a review copy of "In the Belly of Jonah: Liv Bergen #1" by Sandra Brannan (Greenleaf) from author's publicist. ( )

After reading Widow’s Might, I liked the characters so much, I decided to go back to the beginning of the Liv Bergen series and read them in order.

Liv Bergen, age 29, manages her family’s limestone quarry in Livermore, Colorado.

Liv keeps getting mixed up in murders. In this book, it all starts when one of her employees at the mine is found murdered, in a very gruesome way. The circumstances of the death suggest the employee was the latest victim of the so-called Venus de Milo serial killer. One of the FBI agents who arrives in Fort Collins to investigate is Liv's former college basketball teammate, Lisa Henry. Liv invites Lisa to stay at her house, and even suggests that Lisa and her colleagues use her house as their working headquarters. Liv leaves the house early and stays out late so she won’t disturb them. In fact, she never even meets the one agent Lisa characterizes as “a legend” and “incredibly handsome,” Special Agent Streeter Pierce from the FBI in Denver.

Liv also investigates on her own, in part because she cared for Jill (the victim), in part because of bits and pieces of conversation with Lisa, and perhaps mostly because she has a kind of Nancy Drew disposition. Eventually, she herself comes to the attention of the de Milo killer, and there is a tension-filled confrontation at the end of the book.

Evaluation: It was definitely worthwhile to go backwards in the series and meet Liv and Lisa and Streeter and the others at the beginning. The protagonists are all charming, especially Liv, and as soon as I finished this first book, I went on to the second…. ( )

From my blog

I knew this was a series, I mainly enjoy stand alone's so I initially thought OMG we will be dealing with the same serial killer, sigh, but nope looks like different cases for the series but the same amateur girl next door acting detective, Liv and the real Detective Streeter. So in the Belly of Jonah we get it all with a good wrap up, I am pleased.

I did a minor in Art History so I completely got the mysterious brutal and gruesome parts but it didn't take away from the story at all, if anything it helped with the visuals. A sick and twisted serial killer that thought far to much of himself.

I did like the idea that Liv came across as just using her brain and experiences to be able to help the Detectives instead of a wannabe that is better than the cops, that usually is a put off to me. She was directly involved as the victim worked for her and the Detective was an old friend from college. They dealt with the critical incident with staff very well, completely believable. What was unbelievable is staying with Liv during the investigation, that would never get approved with Liv being so close to the investigation. Especially since it wasn't a secret, ridiculous.

I was pleased that people actually died, the ones who usually never do, that was well done, gave us some good action. Sandra Brannan did a great job on giving you ideas of who the murderer was so it became a him or him or is it someone else, good suspense.

This was a strong debut, well thought out. A touch on the cozy side for me other than brutal scenes but overall it worked. I will continue to read this series. ( )

Local author Sandra Brannan's debut novel, In the Belly of Jonah, is promising. Liv "Boots" Bergen is a likable protagonist and I can't wait to see her develop as the series progresses. There are parts of the story that don't feel as fleshed out as they could have been, but the story was gripping and suspenseful. ( )