Sunday, July 30, 2017


HIGH STRUNG
and
A BEAD IN THE HAND
Written by Janice Peacock
Narrated by Mary Ann Jacobs 

HIGH STRUNG
Book 1 in the Glass Bead Mysteries
Audion version
Written by 
Janice Peacock
narrated by 
Mary Ann Jacobs



After inheriting a house in Seattle, Jax O'Connell is living the life of her dreams as a glass bead maker and jewelry designer. When she gets an offer to display her work during a bead shop's opening festivities, it's an opportunity Jax can't resist - even though the store's owner is the surliest person Jax has ever met. The weekend's events become a tangled mess when a young bead maker is found dead nearby and several oddball bead enthusiasts are suspects. Jax must string together the clues to clear her friend Tessa's name - and do it before the killer strikes again.

MY REVIEW


Original Paperback Review

HIGH STRUNG is a fun, fast mystery that I couldn’t put down!
I really like books where I am not only entertained, but where I can learn new things as well. My time spent reading HIGH STRUNG contained both.

Author Janice Peacock has created a series and protagonist that really captured my imagination. Jacqueline “Jax” O’Connell is a strong, intelligent character who is a pleasure to read. From her passion for making glass beads, to the way she handled investigating a murder, I enjoyed getting to know her. The rest of the cast of characters were fun to get to know. Such varying personalities, and all so multilayered.

This first installment in the Glass Bead mysteries was a wonderfully written mystery that I really loved. A great storyline that flowed at just the perfect pace. The reveal wasn’t exactly an action packed one, but it did surprise me when I read who the killer was.

I had book two, A BEAD IN THE HAND out and ready to read after this one and I was just as pleased!

Give HIGH STRUNG a try. You’re going to be happy you did!

Audio Review

Author Janice Peacock has written a book that with the narration of Mary Ann Jacobs, has translated to audio perfectly.

As entertaining in audio as it was in print, I had just as much fun listening to HIGH STRUNG as I did reading it. Narrator Jacobs brought to life the cast from this series in such a way, that along with Peacock’s written descriptions, I now feel as though I have really met these wonderful characters.

As with my printed copies, I had the audio of book two, A BEAD IN THE HAND ready to listen to at the end of HIGH STRUNG.

If you’re a fan of audio/Audible books, you have got to give HIGH STRUNG a listen. 

A BEAD IN THE HAND
Book 2 in the Glass Bead Mysteries
Audion version
Written by 
Janice Peacock
narrated by 
Mary Ann Jacobs


A bead bazaar turns bizarre when jewelry designer and glass beadmaker Jax O'Connell discovers a dead body beneath her sales table. Suspected of murder, Jax and her friend Tessa scramble to find the killer among the fanatic shoppers and eccentric vendors. They have their hands full dealing with a scumbag show promoter, hipsters in love, and a security guard who wants to do more than protect Jax from harm. Adding to the chaos, Jax's quirky neighbor Val arrives unexpectedly with trouble in tow. Can Jax untangle the clues before she's arrested for murder?

MY REVIEW


Original Paperback Review

Even better than the first book in this series, HIGH STRUNG, A BEAD IN THE HAND was a fun, entertaining page turner!

Really upping her game from the first installment of the Glass Bead mysteries, author Janice Peacock topped herself when I wouldn’t have thought it possible for her to do so.

It was great to spend more time with Jax, Tess, and the rest of the great characters in this series. I so much enjoyed the wit and intelligence in the way they are written.

With even more mystery, fun, and drama than book one, I didn’t want to set down, A BEAD IN THE HAND for even a second. This book was page after page of great reading. I flew through the story in one setting. A fantastic plot with an exciting reveal, I didn’t want it to end!

I sure hope author Peacock has a third book coming out soon! (Up dated note – she did! And more after that!)

Audio Review

Once again the writing/narrating team of author Janice peacock, and the narrator for her audios, Mary Ann Jacobs, have brought to life the cozy side of the town (well, city) of Seattle, Washington.

When I read A BEAD IN THE HAND, Ms. Peacock brought to life her characters in a way that I felt like I was in the room them. While listening to the audio that feeling only intensified. Between the fabulous writing of author Peacock, and the pleasant voice of narrator Jacobs, I feel as though I know protagonist Jax, and her entire group of friends.

I’ve read all of the amazing books the Glass Bead Mysteries so far, and now I can’t wait to listen to all of them!

📘🎧📕🎧📗🎧📙

Author Janice Peacock


Janice Peacock decided to write her first mystery novel after working in a glass studio full of colorful artists who didn't always get along. They reminded her of the odd, and often humorous, characters in the murder mystery books she loved to read. Inspired by that experience, she combined her two passions and wrote High Strung: A Glass Bead Mystery, launching a new cozy mystery series featuring glass beadmaker Jax O'Connell.

When Janice isn't writing about glass artists-turned-amateur-detectives, she makes glass beads using a torch, designs one-of-a-kind jewelry, and makes sculptures using hot glass. An award-winning artist, her work has been exhibited internationally and is in the permanent collections of the Corning Museum of Glass, the Glass Museum of Tacoma, WA, and in private collections worldwide.

Janice lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two cats, and twelve chickens. She has a studio full of beads...lots and lots of beads.
www.JanicePeacock.com

Twitter, Instagram: @JanPeac

Narrator Mary Jane Jacobs


Mary Ann’s bio and experience…
Objective
To gain employment as a voice-over actor

Education
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA
M.A. Continuing and Community Education
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA
B.S. Music Education, Teaching Certificate
Edge Studio, New York City

Relevant Experience
1980 – Present

📘🎧📕🎧📗🎧📙


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