Julie Mulhern's Bad Blood: A Review by E. B. Davis

 

Prudence Davies is one of Ellison Jones' least favorite people on earth. She's vindictive. She's mean. And the two share a twisted history. Or, they did.

When Prudence is murdered after a very public spat, Ellison finds herself a murder suspect. Worse, the investigating officer has it in for Ellison's homicide detective husband.

Old secrets. Old lies. New drama.

Can Ellison find the killer or will the bad blood between her and Prudence mean the end to all she holds dear?

Amazon.com

 

In Bad Blood, main character Ellison Jones is arrested for the murder of Prudence Davies by a homicide detective, who doesn’t like her husband Anarchy, who is also a homicide detective working out of the same station. Ellison has been targeted to take the blame. Someone close, who knew she kept her gun in a nightstand, stole it and used it as the murder weapon. It was common knowledge that she disliked Prudence, who dallied with her late husband. Prudence drew Ellison into a loud argument by the country club swimming pool the day before. Ellison must save herself without Anarchy’s help. He’s been warned not to interfere in the case.      

I hope I’m wrong. But I fear I’m not. Bad Blood is Julie Mulhern’s twentieth novel in the Country Club Murder mystery series, and I think it is the last book. Prudence, the victim, is Ellison Jones’s nemesis, stemming from the first book in the series, The Deep End. Julie has brought the series around full circle. Ellison started out a married woman with low self-esteem in a loveless, conventional marriage. She was henpecked by her domineering mother. After her lousy husband Henry was murdered, Ellison stood firm as a single mother and a financially successful artist. When she was forced to solve murders, her self-esteem grew, as did her ability to stand up to her mother. But she found true love in police detective Anarchy Jones, married him against her mother’s wishes, and solved murders.

 

Ellison Jones’s dilemmas and conflicts have been solved. Even her mother is now a softer, gentler person, treating Ellison with the respect she deserves. Another reason I think this is the last book is that Julie introduces a new historical mystery series at the end of Bad Blood. Although I can understand Julie wanting a new series, I will hate to see this one go. It’s humor and irony made for great reading.

Elements of Julie Mulhern’s Country Club Series By E. B. Davis

In a previous blog, I listed my favorite series and decided to reread some of those series to pinpoint the elements that I liked and wanted to include in my own writing. I started this exercise by rereading Julie Mulhern’s Country Club series.

 

The plot is entirely character-driven. Ellison Walford Russell, the main character (presented in first person), solves the cases seamlessly in the course of her everyday life. There is no heart-felt declaration of a need to get involved for the sake of justice and stick her nose where it doesn’t belong. Ellison belongs in her close-knit country club world. She’s one of them as her parents and grandparent were before her. The cases presented in this series are similar to Closed-Circle mysteries, in which a small number of people are isolated when a crime occurs and the killer has to be one of those present. It is not so much the location isolation in this series, but the tightly-drawn social circle. It’s more akin to the small-town mystery even if located in the midst of Kansas City, MO. The police need Ellison to navigate and translate this inner circle. That isn’t to say that she, her family, and friends can’t be on the suspect list, but seriously, not the Walfords, whose integrity is above suspicion.   

 

The series is set in the 1970s when I was in college. Julie presents an accurate portrayal of the times in terms of the generations’ attitudinal differences, changing values, and historically accurate detail. What compels me to buy these books is the humor and complex relationships Ellison has with her family, dog (Max), and Mr. Coffee machine. I also appreciate Ellison’s perspective/insights. As a young woman during this time, I failed to see the changes that were occurring around me (or like most youth, the world revolved around me). Ellison is fifteen years older and provides the maturity I lacked.

 

The humor covers slap-stick, situational, and sarcasm. The slap-stick often involves Max, her dog. The situational when someone is trying to put logic on emotional/chaotic scenes resulting in non sequiturs. And sarcasm is provided by her daughter Grace to her or Ellison to her mother, Frances. Unfortunately, those scenes are too long to present here.

 

Ellison’s Relationships:

 

·      Her contentious relationship with her mother, Frances, usually adversarial, but at times fully harmonic. In pinch times, she emulates her mother to get her own way, knowing how strong, overbearing, and powerful her mother is to fight. And yet, she does not want to be like her mother.

‘“Ellison takes after Frances that way.’ Aunt Sis skewered me with a look she’d borrowed from Mother. ‘The two of you are more alike than you’ll admit.’

Aunt Sis was wrong. So wrong. Mother was a force of nature. I was a gentle breeze. Mother pushed and prodded and got her way. I made polite suggestions. The wind (Aunt Sis accounted for most of the first bottle) was talking.

‘Has Frances ever backed down?’ Aunt Sis demanded. ‘From anything?’

‘No,’ I admitted.

‘Neither have you.’”                            Stayin’ Alive                Loc 53

 

“With too many martinis, there’s no telling what she’d [Frances] say. But I’d wanted her at my back when I faced Anarchy’s family. She might be an iron-willed, take-no-prisoners bully, but she was my bully.”           Lyin’ Eyes Page 121

 

·      Her loving relationship with her daughter, Grace, a teenager, who is dealing with the loss of her father, a changing mother, and her own immaturity and growth.

“Frances Walford made a point of holding her anger close, like a mother with a newborn baby. I frowned. Tomorrow, I’d marry the man of my dreams, and she’d rather nurse a grudge than enjoy the weekend. Watching the haughty tilt of her chin, I vowed to never, ever punish Grace with cold anger.”  Lyin’ Eyes  Page 106

 

·      Her honest, but nonjudgmental relationship with her best friend, Libba, who has different, less conservative values.

Libba to Anarchy on Ellison: “Frances blames you for Ellison’s new independence, but she’s wrong. It’s all Ellison. She finally grew a pair.”    Lyin’ Eyes Page 120

 

·      Her exasperated relationship with her dog, Max, a source of comic frustration and yet also a great protector.

“A deep growl had me levitating from my bed. Grrr. I wiped the sleep from my eyes. ‘What’s wrong, Max?’….I considered my options. Max didn’t growl wolf.”

                                                                             Lyin’ Eyes Page 129

 

·      Her love relationship with her Mr. Coffee machine—her perfect man—fulfilling, steadfast, always on time, and who doesn’t argue.

“’Is that why you talk to Mr. Coffee?’ She [Grace] gave me a cheeky grin.

‘Among other reasons.’ Mr. Coffee was also cheerful, dependable, and generous.

‘You realize he can’t talk back?’

‘Neither can Max, but I talk to him too.’ Mr. Coffee and Max did talk back. That Grace didn’t hear them was not my fault.”                                 Lyin’ Eyes   Page 142

 

“’She tried to grab Beau, and Max lunged for her. I thought he might rip her throat out. Then, she ran away.’ I loved my dog.”     Killing Me Softly   Page 162

 

Ellison is in transition. She has one foot in the past due to her upbringing and unsuccessful marriage, and one foot in the present, taking control of her life with the realization that her future can be something different. This transition is also echoed in the 1970s social changes that are occurring on a national level.

 

·      Having been brought up to be a supportive spouse, her art career, looked upon as a hobby, is making her famous.

“My late husband had done things I didn’t like to think about. True, he’d been an upstanding member of the community. True, he’d been a good provider. True, he’d adored our daughter. But Henry’s faults as a husband outweighed the good.

He’d cheated on me with friends. He’d cheated on me with strangers. He’d cheated on me with women who carried handcuffs and whips. To say our marriage wasn’t in the greatest shape before I did the unforgivable was an understatement.

My unforgivable sin?

I earned more money than he did.”       Telephone Line             Loc 478

 

·       She wants equality in her relationships and for herself, her daughter, and for all women.

“She stared at her hands folded in her lap. ‘Mr. Brown says I make a nice second income.’ Her bare left hand drew my gaze.

‘It’s not a second income, is it?’

‘No, ma’am.’”                                           Lyin’Eyes                     Page 61

 

Anarchy, Ellison’s new significant other, has grown up in a very similar and uncompromising way, except that his folks are the polar opposite of Ellison’s. They are left-coast liberals who look down their noses at the Walford’s wealth, status, and conservative views. Anarchy’s conventional ways are his rebellion. Ellison’s unconventional ways are her rebellion, declaring her independence and embracing her success. She empowers herself. All the parents are aggrieved! Such lovely irony and humor. I can only hope to come close.

 

In the middle of this series, Julie’s publisher decided to quit. She is now self-publishing this series along with her new series, the Fields’ Guide mysteries. I hope she will keep the Country Club mystery series going. I know that many authors get bored by their first successful series and want to write greener books, but this series is a winner. The choreography of plot and backstory creates the best of reads.

 

What elements do you plant in your stories?

A Review of Julie Mulhern's Big Shot By E. B. Davis

 

Ellison and Anarchy Jones are looking forward to a relaxing weekend in the country. Time spent skeet shooting, fishing, and horse-back riding with friends. Hours spent swaying in a shady hammock without friends.

But when Ellison walks into a murder scene, her friends become suspects. And each of them has an excellent motive for murder.

Can Ellison sift through the lies and unmask a killer, or will a weekend away cost her everything she holds dear?

Amazon.com

 

Big Shot is the fifteenth book in Julie Mulhern’s County Club Murder mystery series. She took over its publishing from Henery Press a few years back, and I’m very glad she did since it has continued to be one of my favorites. It is set during the 1970s in Kansas City, MO. The following few paragraphs give readers an overview of the series. Although I reveal victims of the first book, I do not reveal the killer. After fifteen books, the series background is important for the current book’s review.

 

Main character, Ellison Russell Jones, is in her late 30s with a daughter in high school. Over the course of the series, Ellison runs into corpses, the first one being her husband’s mistress followed by her husband, the philandering and outraged lawyer. Outraged? Ellison’s paintings aren’t supposed to command high prices, intimidatingly high prices rivaling a lawyer’s income. Sexism is a recurrent theme that naturally pops up due to Ellison’s talents that force her outside the given societal parameters, ones that don’t include wives making more money than their husbands.

 

A romance develops between Ellison and the homicide detective, Anarchy Jones, who investigates the murders of the corpses Ellison discovers and who isn’t easily intimidated. His mother rivals Ellison’s mother in the opposite extreme so their upbringings aren’t really that different. He, too, isn’t doing what his mother wants of him.

 

Despite her mother’s best efforts, Ellison doesn’t let the confines of her social position define her. The clashes between the women are intensified because, much to Ellison’s dismay, she often finds her mother’s traits within herself. She has a love affair with her Mr. Coffee Machine and owns a dog named Max who causes trouble with the neighbors on top of their vexation with the police vehicles that frequent her house. Although Ellison lives her life as she sees fit, she doesn’t intentionally try to be socially unacceptable, but her best efforts to conform are often thwarted, and she marries Anarchy—not the husband her mother ordered.

 

Big Shot is like a locked room mystery because it is set at a camp affiliated with her Country Club. Eight couples, including Anarchy and Ellison, spend the weekend at the camp, which was planned by two of the wives. Ellison finds one of the men shot to death. When Anarchy is asked to lead the investigation, Ellison finds the situation socially awkward since they are her friends, putting Anarchy and Ellison into conflict. But when her mother suggests that Anarchy change his career, Ellison realizes that supporting her husband regardless of the social outcome is a position she must take.

 

The opening scene epitomizes the double entendre of the book title, which is also the title of a song by Billy Joel. I think Ellison’s ability to Skeet shoot may have been in a previous book, but I didn’t know Libba and Ellison were well versed in the equestrian arts, which isn’t surprising given the era and their social standing. Ellison pulls rank surprisingly by pulling out her secret weapon, her mother, to override institutional restraints. Her mother fulfills her assignment and takes no prisoners, as Ellison anticipated.

 

Ellison’s successful investigation and a snake reinforce Anarchy’s faith in his wife and marriage. With the murderer found, readers wonder if the remaining couples on the suspects’ list will fall one-by-one in upcoming books. Few were true friends anyway.

An Interview with Julie Mulhern by E. B. Davis

“Ellison Walford Russell!” Mother’s scandalized voice made me leap

three feet into the air. “Are you making out over a corpse?”

Julie Mulhern, Killer Queen, Kindle Loc. 210

Another day, another dead woman in Ellison Russell's study.

Only this one claimed to be Mrs. Anarchy Jones.

As Ellison juggles mothers, daughter, unhappy wives, and near-miss murder attempts, one thing is clear—someone will go to any lengths to hide the truth.

Can Ellison and Anarchy catch a killer before the body count rises? Or will Ellison be the next corpse in the study?

Amazon.com

Killer Queen is the eleventh book in Julie Mulhern’s Country Club Murder mystery series, which is set in the 1970s. Julie is one of the most gifted humor writers that I’ve read. Main character Ellison Russell finds herself in the most damning of situations—all of which she has no part in creating. Things just happen to Ellison, and usually in front of her critical mother. Readers cringe for Ellison all the while trying not to burst out laughing. But of course, since Ellison is unaware she has an audience and we fear not that she’ll find out, we laugh out loud.  

This time the murder costs Ellison and Anarchy a trip to Italy. Someone’s got to pay, and of course, the killer does.

Please welcome Julie Mulhern back to WWK.              E. B.  Davis

Were Cobb Salads created during the 1970s or were they just popular then?

Actually, the Cobb salad was created in the 1930s at the Hollywood Brown Derby and named for its owner, Robert Cobb. The salad features lettuce, tomato, bacon, chicken breast, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, and blue cheese. It’s been a favorite on country club menus for decades.

[Neighbor Margaret says to Ellison:] “For almost twenty years, you were dull. You let your husband hide your light. Now that he’s gone, you shine.” (Kindle Loc. 356)

Two pages prior to this quote, Ellison describes Margaret as a witch, along with her black cat, described as her familiar. But Margaret is surprising, isn’t she?

Margaret is prickly and particular and puts up with the goings-on at Ellison’s house. For years, Ellison was a bit afraid of her. Now that Henry is dead, and the two women are getting to know each other, Ellison sees other facets to Margaret’s personality.

What’s a Bellini?

Like the Cobb salad, Bellinis began in the 1930s. The cocktail was invented at Harry’s Bar in Venice (which is why Ellison bemoans not drinking them when her trip to Italy is cancelled). Bellinis consist of puréed white peaches and Prosecco. They’re delicious.

Do you have a theory as why no one makes Bundt cakes anymore?

No theory on that – I still make Bundt cakes!

Ellison gets caught at being a substitute for a bridge game. I know of only one person that still plays bridge. Did it go the way of Bundt cakes? No one has time for it anymore?

I have a regular bridge game and am called upon to sub. As a result, I know LOTS of bridge players and lots of women who are taking lessons.

Ellison only plays golf when her father wants a private discussion with her. But when pressed into defending Anarchy as being suitable for her, she ends up breaking the ladies’ record for the golf course. Does distraction, anger, or decisiveness fuel her game?

Ellison’s amazing round of golf was fueled by anger and luck!

Anarchy’s mother, Celeste, is also an artist. I thought they might have a lot in common paving the way for their relationship. How does Celeste treat Ellison?

While Celeste and Ellison are both artists, they are very different women. Celeste sees Ellison living a life she’s rejected (country clubs, bridge with friends, golf…) and disapproves of her.

Ellison’s mom represents the staunch old guard. Anarchy’s mother, who represents the new modern feminists, talks about vaginas a lot, in public. Will you play off the two in future books? Will you have us, God Forbid, rooting for Ellison’s mom? (I secretly like her at times. Sometimes, a lot!)

Writing Frances and Celeste together is too much fun not to do it again! Can you imagine them coming up with a seating chart?

Ellison isn’t much of a cook, one of the reasons she has Aggie, her housekeeper/confident/friend. But she can operate her Mr. Coffee. Is that why she talks to him and thinks of the machine as her friend? Or is it more that he always agrees with her?

Before her husband died, Ellison was trapped in a lonely marriage. Before Aggie arrived, Ellison was saddled with a less-than-friendly housekeeper. When Grace left for school in the morning, Ellison had only the dog and Mr. Coffee for company. Even though her life has improved, her relationship with Mr. Coffee remains strong.

How did you pick Sweet Briar as the college of the victim?

Sweet Briar is a beautiful women’s college in Virginia. The college runs a renowned Junior Year in France program which I attended.

What is Sambuca? Why would Celeste assume Ellison had it on hand?

Sambuca is an anise-flavored liqueur that was popular in the 1970s. Unlike Bellinis, I do not find it delicious.

What’s a Denver omelet?

 

In the Midwest, an omelet with cheese, diced ham, onions, and green bell peppers is called a Denver omelet.

Is Pequod the restaurant that originated Chicago-style pizza?

I’m not from Chicago, and even if I was, I would NEVER insert myself into that debate! Pizzeria Uno has a claim to that title as does Rosati’s.

Airline food was actually good in the 1970s?

It was a million times better than it is now.

Ellison kicks her mother out of her house when she claims Ellison is thinking with a lower part of her anatomy and that Anarchy is marrying her for her money. Is it a pivotal moment for Ellison or her mother?

In my experience, over the course of their relationships, mothers and daughters say numerous things to each other they’d like to take back. Forgiveness is key. Ellison may be better at that than Frances… 

What kind of house does Ellison have? Her first husband converted the third-floor ballroom into her artist studio. Third-floor ballroom?

Ellison’s house has never been fully described. It’s large. There’s a circle drive edged with hostas. And the study defies her attempts at redecoration.

Third-floor ballrooms are not uncommon in the Midwest. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, when families moved from the east coast and built large houses, their architects designed as they would back east. Three stories. On the east coast, the third story was used for servants’ quarters. In the Midwest, servants (the help) didn’t generally live in, so the third stories remained empty. Calling the finished-but-empty space a ballroom sounded much grander than the kids’ playroom.

Do bees have venom like a snake’s? I thought they just stung you, but then what causes the “sting?” Is that the venom?

A bee’s sting stings due to the stinger being injected into flesh. Ouch!

What’s next for Ellison and Anarchy?

I suspect Ellison will find another body…