Judge a Book by its Cover 19 – #TuesdayBookBlog

Serendipitous by Jay Essen is the book cover that stood out for me this week. If you know me at all, you’ll know how much I enjoy a good murder mystery. Black and white gives mysterious vibes. I like the eye; it has me curious.

The title, Serendipitous, is also intriguing. It gives me a good idea of what to expect. (Not every title does that) A chance encounter leads to a murder, or perhaps the solving of one. Either way, the cover along with the title entices me to look closer.

The Blurb

The murder of Mercy’s father began a series of deaths that, on the surface, appeared unrelated. For the victims a gruesome end, but for someone a serendipitous occurrence of untold benefit.

Who is pulling the strings from the shadows, directing, and manipulating a soul bound to them in fealty? Conniving and cunning, the puppeteer unleashes their ward to eliminate those in their way. Mercy is inextricably connected to the killer, convinced that they murdered her father. While DC Jane Donovan rushes to solve the murders and apprehend the killer, in the hope of revealing the criminal mastermind.


I really like the sound of this book. I like when there’s more than one murder, and of course, they all have to be linked. This blurb sells it for me but it’s the cover that made me check it out in the first place.

This is what some readers think about Serendipitous.


Darren John Lebeau
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really did enjoy reading this murder mystery. The characters are perfectly defined and keeps you guessing all way through to who carried out these murders. Excellent writing and no stone left unturned when it comes to the subject matter. I can see this book doing very well as a screenplay to be made into a Netflix drama series. I would highly recommend this book.

S. Donovan⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A must read

A dark thriller, with unexpected twists and turns. The book is very well written, quite fast paced and had me gripped from the first chapter.
I would definitely recommend reading Serendipitous and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

Mario Wageman ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Gripping Thriller You Won’t Be Able to Put Down!

Wow, Serendipitous was such a surprise! From the first chapter, I was hooked—Jay Essen knows how to pull you right into the story. The characters felt real, and the twists kept coming, just when I thought I had it all figured out. Set against the backdrop of the Covid pandemic, it was easy to relate to the setting, and that added a whole new level of tension. This book has everything a thriller fan could want: suspense, mystery, and moments that leave you catching your breath. I’d highly recommend it and can’t wait to see what Essen writes next!


So if you enjoy a good murder mystery like I do, you’ll check out Serendipitous by Jay Essen. It’s in my Kindle and I’m looking forward to reading it!

Thank you for reading. See you soon with more from Judge a Book by its Cover!

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Be My Guest – #2023PicOfTheWeek

Today’s post is for Maria Antonia’s Weekly Photo Challenge #2023picoftheweek

Here’s how it goes 》Post a photo relating to the word(s) in one of the boxes below. Then link it to Maria’s blog.

Check her out here 》 Maria Antonia if you’d like to join in for the fun!

I’ve chosen Be My Guest for today’s #PicOfTheWeek2023

Be My Guest

I had a lovely cheese and wine evening with some friends last Friday. Cheer and chat and a good ole wind-down!

By the Sea on an Island – #ThursdayDoors

These photos were taken on Inishbofin – an idyllic island off the coast of Galway. If I could own a house by the sea, I’d have one like this.

I wonder how old the door is on this one. Would it be the original? Old doors will last many years as long as they’re well looked after. It looks pretty old.

Thursday Doors is a weekly challenge for people who love doors and architecture to come together to admire and share their favourite door photos, drawings, or other images or stories from around the world. If you’d like to join in and create your own Thursday Doors post each (or any) week, visit nofacilities.com for more information.

Would you like a peek inside the pages of my recently published novel? It might just be your cup of tea!

Territorial – #99WordStories

Small dark spaces I don’t mind, but all this bumpy movement makes me sweat. I peep through the hole to get an idea of what’s happening. Shadows and chattering. Then quiet and stillness.

After a few moments of shuffling, the door opens. Huge hands reach in and grab me. Unfamiliar smells invade my senses. Strange faces… the same as all the curious faces I’m used to seeing; peering, and laughing at me.

‘Welcome to your new home, Mabel,’ the small one says. She gently lowers me into a cage. A house all to myself. Exactly what a hamster needs!

In response to Charli Mills’ #99WordStory Challenge. August 15, 2023, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about the journey home. Who is going home? Or are they in search of a future home or ancestral roots? Think of home as a life lived — adventures, relationships, accumulations. What makes home worth the journey? Go where the prompt leads!