Along the road to northern Michigan for a quiet week of fishing and relaxation, one-time homicide detective, Brady Kincaid, stops to visit friends and attend Early’s Founders Day Fair. The late-June weather is perfect for the fair and the thousands of visitors expected in downtown Early. Participating in the fair, Brickley’s Books is ready to welcome hundreds of fans for a book-signing session with best-selling author, Holly LaFrance. What could go wrong? For starters—the body of the town’s librarian is discovered inside Brickley’s bookstore. Who would murder Miss Powder, why so brutally, and why was she found at the coffee bar in the bookstore? To completely jinx the day for Brickley’s Books, the syndicated column, On the Chopping Block, is published with a scathing review of the book to be autographed by Miss LaFrance. Are these incidents related and can Brady be persuaded to remain in town long enough to catch Miss Powder’s killer? The case becomes even more interesting when Brady meets and learns he'll be working with the lovely wildcat, Officer Alice Drinker.
 

Readers Comments

“This mystery has everything a great mystery should: humor, intricate plotting, a shocking and puzzling murder, smart believable characters, and a cozy little town where nothing bad should ever happen.”
Lori S., Warner, NH
(Complete 5 star review available on Amazon.com)

“Another great murder mystery by Bobby Jaye Allen. She knows how to write about a murder and keep you in page-turning suspense through the entire book. Looking forward to her next book!”
Deb F., Mount Joy, PA
(Complete 5 star review available on Amazon.com)

“Brady and Alice quickly narrow down their suspects but to tie it all together and get all the physical evidence in place makes a very enjoyable story.”
Kathleen J,, Langley, BC, Can.
(Complete 4 star review available on Amazon.com)

“What a delight to enter the lives of our friends in Early again.
Thanks, Ms. Allen. You have scored another hit with this reader.”
Danise W., Stevens Point, WI
(Complete 5 star review available on Amazon.com)

“Bobby Jaye gets better with each book. A terrific read. Even stayed up late to finish it.
Rock on, Bobby Jaye.”
Jan W., Albertville, AL
(Complete 5 star review available on Amazon.com)

“When I sat down to read this book, I couldn’t put it down.
The variety of characters held my interest, kept me in suspense and guessing till the end.”
Evrita C., Bellows Falls, VT

“My wife read ‘On the Chopping Block’ in one sitting which made me curious what was so engrossing. I found out by page 3 and couldn’t put the book down until I’d finished it. . . a great book I don’t mind recommending to everyone. . .”
Vince R., Rochester, NY

“Each book by Bobby Jaye Allen seems better than the last. This one, ‘On the Chopping Block,’ moves along so quickly, I was surprised and a little sad when I reached the last page.. . . summing up, this is another mystery from an author who knows how to entertain the reader.”
Joy N., St. Louis, MO

“Fast paced story line with interesting characters. Was a bit disappointed in the interaction between Kincaid and the cousins. Is the author focusing now on Kincaid [and] did I miss something not reading ‘Early’s Pride?’ Otherwise, it was a page turner that kept you reading till the end.”
Marissa Y., LaPlata, MD

“This is a well-rounded mystery with colorful characters, interesting plot, and a thoroughly-explained, logical solution. I don’t know how others will react to the final pages, but I know I will be one of the first in line to read Ms. Allen’s next book in this series to find out what Brady Kincaid decides to do.”
Peggy B., Brighton, MA

“One of the things I like best about this author’s work is that just when the story begins to bog down in serious police procedure, she injects a piece of humor. I don’t want to give the ending away and will only say that in the beginning there were several characters I didn’t like at all. But by the end, I really cared about them. This author knows how to make the people as real as your next door neighbors. ‘On the Chopping Block’ is another be-sure-to-read book.”
Doris E., Etna, CA

“I totally enjoyed ‘On the Chopping Block’ about a bookstore owner, an author, and a librarian and how they were connected. After I finished reading this story, I realized other characters had already been introduced in the author’s previous mystery, ‘Early’s Pride.’ Then I read the five-star reviews for ‘Early’s Pride’ on Amazon, found a copy, and look forward to reading that book, too.”
Gary O., Nashville, TN

Comments from Reviewers

“ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK is a well-written police procedural novel with an excellent cast of characters. Though most of the characters appeared in EARLY’S PRIDE, this book will stand on its own. There are lots of twists and interesting happenings along with a bizarre clue that leads to the murderer’s identity.”
www.scribesworld.com (Hattie Boyd) Four Stars

“Bobby Jaye scores again. Not only does she entertain us with a fast-moving murder mystery but allows us to become better acquainted with principal characters from earlier novels. We applaud the author’s courage including a book reviewer in her colorful cast of characters.”
Half Past Midnight Newsletter (Samantha Elder) Five Bells

“An absolutely enjoyable and comfortable read with no explicit sex, no vulgar language, and no gratuitous violence. The atmosphere of the small town is captured with all its interesting characters. The plot is an intricate one; with the outcome left in doubt until the end.”
www.myshelf.com (Barbara Buhrer)

“This mystery is near the top of our summer must-read list. ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK is a tightly wrapped mystery with clues carefully woven into the story.
Quoting the publisher: “As pleasant as a soft-summer breeze.”
FoggyDog Quarterly (Jim Flowers) AA Plus.

“Find a comfortable chair, prop your feet up, and get ready to enjoy reading ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. The reader first witnesses the murder, then follows Brady Kincaid and friends as they solve the crime. The final chapter is particularly intriguing leaving the reader wondering where Brady will turn up next. Once past the almost forbidding cover and first page, readers can curl up with a delightful five-star mystery.”
www.candlelightreaders.com (Hildi Cummings) Five stars.

“ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK leads the reader on a fast-paced quest for clues. A very satisfying mystery with plenty of twists and slowly revealed clues. It rates Four Hearts.”
www.heartlandreviews.com (Judy Schuler) Four Hearts

“The focus in this murder mystery is primarily on Brady Kincaid and the case, as well as some important decisions about his future [Brady] needs to make. As such there is less romance than in the previous book. Not to say there is not a romantic element; there certainly is, but the mystery is primary. The solution, readily apparent from early in the novel to seasoned mystery readers, still provides an enjoyable read and a very entertaining story.”
www.blueirisjournal (Kevin Tipple)

“Standing applause for ‘On the Chopping Block,’ the third in this series featuring easy-going, bend-the-rules homicide detective Brady Kincaid.. Five Stars."
www.page-by-page (Max Muhler)

“Once past the almost forbidding cover with its menacing axe and the violent first page, you’re drawn into ‘On the Chopping Block,'  a charming, fast-moving murder mystery. Loved it!"
www.bookwagon (Rita Fiocca)

“If a depiction of an axe murder can be said to have humor, Bobby Jaye Allen has accomplished it. The first page of ‘Chopping Block’ is a grabber; however, despite the brutal nature of the opening, the book essentially falls under the ‘cozy’ label and brings the reader entertainingly into the lives of a group of small-town folk as they put on a festival. The main characters are three-dimensional, likeable; their situations and their dialogue are natural. It must be asserted that Bobby Jaye Allen is a talented writer.”
www.writersdigest.com
 

On the Chopping Block, © 2003 by Bobby Jaye Allen, ISBN 000-9712082-2-0, is the latest offering from Accolade Books and was released January, 2004. This is the author’s third murder mystery featuring Detective Brady Kincaid. The 205-page soft-cover mystery retails at a suggested price of $8.99. To inquire about purchasing copies, available discounts, and our return policy:
Phone toll free: 888/318-4794
e-mail: staff@accoladebooks.biz