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The Case of the Dead Dowager: A K9 Police Hero Novel (Women of Valor) (Michaela McPherson Mysteries Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Judith Lucci (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 548 ratings
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The Case of The Dead Dowager

A fancy ladies luncheon at a posh Richmond restaurant goes south when one of the ladies collapses on the table. Can Mic and K9 Angel solve the case?
When Countess Dottie Borghase's friend, Camilla Rothrock, collapses at a lunch gathering of old friends, the Countess's only concern is to dial 911 for help. But Camilla's subsequent death has authorities buzzing about international safety, national security, and terrorism, because her son is decorated U.S. Army four-star General, Stuart Rothrock.

As other restaurant patrons in Richmond meet similar fates, Michaela, K9 Angel and Dottie join forces with the Richmond Police and the FBI to track down the pair of heinous murderers. But to catch the killers, they must put their own lives and the lives of others in in serious jeopardy.

Will Michaela, Countess Dottie and K9 Angel make it out alive?

A gripping, compelling novel in the Women of Valor Series

Editorial Review
Top 500 Reviewer
5.0 out of 5 stars
~~Thriller with a Medical Mystery~~
Reviewed in the United States
Verified Purchase
Sincerely I hope that I am like Countess Dorothy when I reach my early 80's. Love her spunk. And, I would be remiss if I did not mention that lovely canine, Angel. Five woofs for her, too.

Michaela McPherson, was once a Richmond, Virginia, homicide detective. This is one of those professions that never leaves your blood. Once a detective, always a detective.

Thought this was a fast-paced novel with intriguing character development. And, there was an array of delightful characters to keep the reader's interest.

Could this streak of murders be domestic terrorism or is it something else?

Most highly recommended.

Get it and get reading!
“This series rocks! I love the characters and hero dog Angel!”

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Previous page
  1. Book 2 of 6
    Michaela McPherson Mysteries
  2. Print length
    304 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    December 2, 2016
  6. File size
    1794 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Judith Lucci is an Amazon bestseller and award-winning author from the Commonwealth of Virginia. She holds graduate and doctoral degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia. She has been a practicing clinical nurse for over 25 years and is a professor of Nursing at a large University in the Southeastern United States. She is the author of numerous academic and health-related articles and studies. Her Alexandra Destephano medical thriller series is based on her years of clinical experiences and life in New Orleans. She is also the author of the Michaela McPherson crime mystery series set in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia. When not teaching or writing, Judith is an avid silk painter and multimedia artist. She divides her time between the mountains of Virginia and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She welcomes time with her fans and can be reached at Judithlucciwrites@gmail.com or www.JudithLucci.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01LVVZE2H
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bluestone Valley Publishing; 2nd edition (December 2, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 2, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1794 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 548 ratings

About the author

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Judith Lucci

Judith Lucci

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Judith Lucci is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Amazon Best Selling author who loves to kill people - which is totally opposite what she's spent her life doing. "I love to think of heinous ways to dispose of people - sometimes a lot of people- but it must be creative. I don't use guns very often but rather rely on my medical background and research to figure out the best way to get the job done. Bullets are just too easy. I'm sure a psychiatrist would have a ball trying to figure out why someone who spent her life caring for people and saving lives, now spends hours each day in the creative pursuit of murder."

Dr. Lucci is a Gold Medal Winner for Best Sleuth 2017 for The Case of Dr. Dude, the first book in the Michaela McPherson Series and another Gold Medal for Best Political Thriller in 2017 for Viral Intent, the third book in the Alexandra Destephano medical thriller series. Her third Michaela McPherson mystery won a silver medal in 2018 for Best Sleuth. She's has contributed to numerous anthologies, some of which are currently available on Amazon. She has recently claimed the prestigious status of a Wall Street Journal best selling author. She is also a USA Today best selling author. Her Cozy Mystery series, Artsy Chicks, is set at Massanutten Resort in the Virginia mountains where she and several other artists and the local medical examiner, solve mysteries of deaths that occur at the resort.

Lucci's thrillers are a fast-paced, riveting reads that offer readers believable drama, memorable characters and true suspense. Her books are described as 'unputdownable."

Judith was born and educated in Virginia where she holds graduate and doctoral degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia. She is also the author of numerous academic and health-related articles and documents. She loves to communicate with her readers at www.judithlucci.com.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
548 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Cecile Croghan
5.0 out of 5 stars A great addition to the series!!!!
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is my 2nd book to read this author and I can't wait to dig into her previous series. She has definitely hit my favorite writers list, which isn't easy to do, as there aren't many spots open there! Danger lurks in every shadow for Michaela and Angel and, of course, Dottie is right in the middle of the action. Slade is there to back up Mic every step of the way. Lots of action, adventure and a little lite romance thrown in for good measure. Don't miss this outstanding book. Highly recommended for all ages.
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Reader of the Pack
4.0 out of 5 stars Who's Poisoning People in Richmond Virginia?
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2018
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Michaela McPherson and her retired police dog Angel are back in their second adventure. Someone is poisoning random people in Richmond, Virginia. This one hits very close to home. Michaela's dear friend Countessa Dorothy Borghase 82 years old is having lunch with some of her contemporaries when suddenly Camilla Rothrock glances up with a bewildered look and falls face first on the table. Seconds later a waitress walking by with a tray full of food falls to the ground with an apparent seizure. Both women die.

This is a fast paced easy reading book. The villains who have a much bigger disaster planned are so bad they're easy to hate. Judith Lucci's character development is excellent. She really brings her characters to life. The danger builds to an exciting finish and I'm ready to read the third book. Very enjoyable reading experience.
One person found this helpful
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Serenity...
5.0 out of 5 stars ~~Thriller with a Medical Mystery~~
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2019
Verified Purchase
Sincerely I hope that I am like Countess Dorothy when I reach my early 80's. Love her spunk. And, I would be remiss if I did not mention that lovely canine, Angel. Five woofs for her, too.

Michaela McPherson, was once a Richmond, Virginia, homicide detective. This is one of those professions that never leaves your blood. Once a detective, always a detective.

Thought this was a fast-paced novel with some intriguing character development. And, there was an array of delightful characters to keep the reader's interest.

Could this streak of murders be domestic terrorism or is it something else?

Most highly recommended.
Helpful
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Book Lover
5.0 out of 5 stars Very intense reading
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2016
Verified Purchase
Dottie is the Countess and Mic, an ex police officer, is her friend. I live in Virginia and I really enjoyed seeing Richmond, VA through the eyes of the characters. Mic has a police dog Angel which saves the Countess's life as well as Mic. The Countess's best friend dies from poison that cannot be detected. There is a mad scientist making this poison and he is determined to kill as many people as he can with it by dispensing it into beer trucks at a festival. Seven hundred people die before he is caught and his assistant gets away. Maybe that is the making of the next book.
One person found this helpful
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C. Craig Coleman
3.0 out of 5 stars Okay read but no mystery
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2018
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It's a nice story of gruesome crimes but there is no mystery and I wouldn't call it suspenseful either. The reader can figure out most of it long before things happen. Particularly annoying is the same scratching the dog behind the ear in every single chapter. Yes, the dog's relationship with the main characters is crucial but it's repeated over and over are the platitudes Michaela and Dottie slather each other with. Those endearing observations are 'told' with common phrases rather than shown actively in the scenes diminishing true feelings. Thus, I never really felt a connection to the characters.
One person found this helpful
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Onereader
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good read
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2018
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I really enjoyed this well thought out and well written book by Judith Lucci. The characters are well drawn and their personalities shine through. The villains are disturbingly nasty and the heroines (plus Angel) are courageous and intelligent. This is a very enjoyable book, keeping the reader involved throughout. Recommended.
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Jasper
5.0 out of 5 stars Taut, Fast-Paced, Thriller!
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2016
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Countess Dorothy Borghase, (Dottie), is a hoot! The octogenarian aristocrat is spurred into action when one of her best friends, Camilla, unexpectedly drops dead during lunch at a fashionable Richmond bistro. Suspecting foul play, the Countess badgers her friend, ex-Richmond Homicide detective, Michaela McPherson, into helping her with the investigation. The plot thickens when Camilla's death is followed by several others, all seemingly unconnected poisonings. Is it a terrorist plot? Or is there something else afoot?

This is a fast-paced, exciting tale of murder and mayhem in the old south that is hard to put down. Lucci's medical background is apparent in her description of the signs and symptoms exhibited by the victims and in the composition of the poisons themselves. Having worked in the medical field, I enjoy thrillers of this nature (e.g., 'Coma' by Robin Cook, etc.) and this is one of the best I've read in a while.

'Dowager' is the 2nd novel in Lucci's Michaela McPherson Mystery series, but you don't need to start on #1 to enjoy this one. It is a stand-alone mystery.

In summary, if you enjoy a good medical thriller, you don't want to miss "The Case of the Dead Dowager". Highly Recommended.
3 people found this helpful
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Colleen
5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Page Turner
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2018
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I am really enjoying the Michaela McPherson Mysteries. The author has quite a way of bringing the characters and story to life with her style of writing. I sure did not get much done while reading this book. Countess Dottie at age 82 is a real hoot. I love how her friend and retired police detective turn private eye, Micheala, who is also young enough to be her grand daughter, handles her. Together with the help of retired police canine, Angel, they solve crimes. This story was a little scary as it could very well happen. Terror crimes are so sadly a part of our lives. This one involved poisoning starting in a restaurant and ending at a large outdoor festival where the beer was flowing. I will warn that while the first part of the book is well edited, there are some issues later in the story. If it had not been such a terrific story, I would have given a 4 star rating as I have done editing and after 2 or 3 small misses, I get frustrated that I need to stop to interpret what is meant. I look forward to reading more of this series.
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Top reviews from other countries

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daniela
1.0 out of 5 stars Un libro di cui si poteva fare a meno...
Reviewed in Italy on May 25, 2019
Verified Purchase
Noiosoooooo.....un racconto di 20pagine allungato all'infinito, con persone che parlano e riassumono la stessa cosa 100volte...e le forze dell'ordine che fanno solo meeting senza essere buone a nulla...la contessa dopo due pagine già non si sopporta più e gli altri sembrano tutti idioti
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Enrico Grafitti
5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read series for all lovers of modern detective fiction
Reviewed in Spain on December 3, 2016
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The Queen of New Orleans Medical Thrillers is back with a second book in her new series set in Richmond, Virginia and with this superb story she assumes a new title: the Duchess of Deadly Deeds. Judith Lucci’s unusual Private Investigator duo of ex-cop Michaela McPherson and Countess Dottie, ably assisted by retired police dog Angel, face off against a particularly insidious foe in this heart-stopping tale.
From the very first paragraphs, author Lucci plunges the reader into the tranquil world of well-to-do Richmond citizens, creating a comfortable interlude which lulls us into complacency and serves to heighten the terrible events that follow. Lucci’s choice of a particularly dastardly means of dealing death where anyone could be the victim, and her creation of evil personified as the main perpetrator sends thrills through the tale as the investigators race to prevent more deaths. Additionally, one of the bad guys from the first novel in the series also plays a major role in this one too and readers need to keep a close eye on him throughout.
This is an outstanding second book in what is quickly shaping up to be a must-read series for all lovers of modern detective fiction. Lucci’s balance of intriguing in-depth, quirky characters and gritty storylines will keep you turning pages late into the night. Highly recommended.
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Sibyl Mory
5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT THRILLER
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 3, 2016
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Michaela McPherson, one-time homicide detective, is involved in another fight against time to apprehend two ruthless and crazed killers in Richmond. She is joined again by the elderly but indomitable Countess Dorothy Borghase. Full of twists and turns, excitement, evil villains, and a great finale. And not to forget retired police dog, Angel... Great stuff.
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Reading is for fun
5.0 out of 5 stars Another great medical thriller
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 31, 2016
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When Snake and Boris make a potion that can easily wipe out the US army all hell is unleashed and Lucci uses her considerable knowledge of medicine and hospitals to construct another brilliant novel. A waitress keels over and Camilla has a heart attack . Gripping thriller not to be missed
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