Murder on the Mind

This book was a page turner. Starts off with Jeff Resnick getting beaten up by a couple of teenage thugs for his money and watch. Unfortuntely, it was the night before he was to begin a new job after being downsized from his previous job as an insurance investigator. Hospitalized, his estranged brother comes to him and offers to take him home to his place in Buffalo. Jobless, penniless, owing back rent and suffering from headaches from the mugging and a broken arm Jeff reluctantly agrees. Immediately after arriving in Buffalo Jeff has a sixth sense that something bad has happened. He continues to get flashes and nightmares of a murder and begins investigating on his own with the help of his brother while mending their estranged show more relationship. show less

Jeff Resnick, an out-of-work insurance investigator is brutally mugged and when he awakens he has only his half-brother to depend on and a strange feeling that keeps getting stranger - he sees a man murdered in his mind.

Jeff's brother Richard takes him home to Buffalo where Jeff confronts his memories and works to uncover the murderer of the man who as a child help him at a low point in his life. His psychic abilities are reaching deeper and deeper into the murder and showing not only who did it but who was the witness.

Turning to the police with his "feelings" doesn't get him the help he needs until he can give evidence to convince the detective in charge. Will it be in time?

I was blown away by this story. First, the author writes great show more cozies so I was prepared for something totally different. Second, I don't usually go in for those "psychic" things but the way the story unravels, the reader is right there with the character trying to understand what's happening to him. It seemed so real. show less

When Jeff Resnick, a laid-off insurance investigator is viciously mugged and almost killed, the head injury leaves him able to sense other people’s secrets. Then, when his estranged half-brother Richard takes him to the family home in Buffalo, New York to recuperate, he begins sensing things about the recent grisly murder of a local banker. For reasons he doesn’t at first realize, Jeff feels compelled to investigate the murder, but as he gets closer to the truth, he finds his life, and that of his brother, in grave peril.
L.L. Bartlett’s Murder on the Mind is a gripping tale of suspense, personal relationships, and personal growth that will keep you turning the pages and panting from beginning to end. His characters are more than show more fully fleshed; they are people you know, as real as your next door neighbor, warts and all. The dialogue is gritty, as is the scenery. You can hear the anguish and anger and feel the stinging bite of the winter wind. You’ll find yourself sitting on the edge of your chair, or biting your nails as Jeff gets closer to the killer – and as the killer gets closer to him.
The first in what is hopefully a long series of Jeff Resnick mysteries, this is mystery the way mystery is intended. As dark as Mickey Spillane, but with a touch of Robert B. Parker’s thoughtfulness, and Sue Grafton’s wry humor, but uniquely Bartlett. Don’t miss it. show less

Not Much of a Mystery

I started this book with a lot of high hopes- psychic detective, thousands, not hundreds, but over two thousand 4 and five star reviews, but soon found myself plowing through yet another over-hyped Kindle, eagerly anticipating the final page so I could be done with a mediocre at best read. This story, as a handful of readers have written, is a snore, and there is simply no mystery. The psychic element is interesting, but is not used well. The writer uses it only instead of detection. And why in God's name would anyone talk to this guy anyway? There is no earthly reason. Even the brothers' backstory is dull and just ordinary and flat. Eventually, you do end up cheering for the three main characters a tad, but it is a show more long haul. I will definitely not be back for more. How does one get over 2000 stellar reviews for such pablum? That is the real mystery. show less

Jeff Resnick, an insurance investigator, had a serious head injury after being mugged. But it gave him an off and on psychic ability that helped him investigate the murder of a not well-liked and philandering business man. I liked Jeff's character and his struggles with both his recovery from injury and the new and baffling pyschic ability. I also liked his brother Richard, the doctor, and his girlfriend Brenda, the nurse. I liked the interaction between the characters which was realistic. The story moved along well with occasional humor.

This was a very good book. The character, Jeff Resnick, is one of those people, who if he didn't have bad luck, he'd have no luck. The book starts with Jeff being mugged, after just having gotten a new job. Jeff begins having dreams or visions of a specific death resulting from a head injury he sustained during the mugging. Jeff becomes determined to find out who is murdered and solve the case. In the process we find out about Jeff's life. I'm not sure if the female romantic interest was needed, and if it continues will need to be more developed. But otherwise a good start to a new series.

An okay mystery, not the most enthralling. Easy to read, nothing too graphic. Found it light reading and not interested enough in the main character to continue the series.