Book Review: Southern Comfort

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Southern Comfort     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
J. M. Jeffries
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Romantic Suspense
Genesis, Jul 2002, $8.95, 312 pp.

Former Army Lieutenant Hardesty Arnaud gained plenty of experience in law enforcement during her ten years as a military police officer. However, that work would not have dented the patriarchal gang of three that run her hometown of St. Martine, Louisiana to enable Hardesty to become the town’s police chief. It took an act of the President shown on national TV when she received a medal for her bravery under sniper fire in the Kuwaiti Desert to obtain the job of St. Martine Police Chief.

The comparatively easy assignment turns deadly when a murder victim with ties to the mob is found. FBI Agent Nick Brannigan arrives to learn why Brooklyn born Mafia attorney John Capizi hidden in St. Martine is dead, how much damage to the Feds’ case against the Patrini Family has that caused and where is the missing US Marshal assigned to protect Capizi? As the two law officials squabble over jurisdiction and cooperation, they fall in love, but both know that the case must come first besides he is big city while she is backwater.

SOUTHERN COMFORT is not the typical romantic suspense cozy-like tale, but more a gritty police procedural romance with the humorous bantering between the lead protagonists used to offset the graphic crime scenes. The lead couple is a delightful duo fighting with one another over the investigation and the attraction. Sub-genre fans will enjoy this fast-paced regional tale and want J.M. Jeffries to provide a sequel starring the law enforcement duet.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner