"When JR finally surfaces he is immediately arrested However, an attack on Snake seems to prove to her and Jeff that JR is innocent. As they investigate further, things become complicated, and nothing appears to be clear-cut. Finally, the pieces begin to fit together and the stunning truth is revealed that solves not one, but two murders, one buried in the past. "This is a first book by the authors, both of whom are involved in the background that adds so much to the story. I have never read another story set behind the scenes in a zoo, and that alone made it fascinating and intriguing. But the plotting and writing were also both first rate, and extremely sophisticated. It was a book I did not want to put down, and just kept reading till I reached the end. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED." __________________________________________________________________ "Death Roll...introduces an original protagonist in zookeeper Snake Jones, a determined woman who prefers khaki over pastels and hiking boots over heels. Snake is a breath of fresh air to the mystery genre, even if that air is tainted with the pungent odor of animal droppings. Death Roll is a fun read and well plotted mystery, appropriate for most ages, with a unique settings, and colorful characters of both the two-and-four-footed variety." --Sue Ann Jaffarian, author of the Odelia Grey mystereis. __________________________________________________________________ "If you enjoy Animal Planet and like mysteries then you'll certainly fall for Snake and Jeff Jones. They're a modern day Nick and Nora Charles for the zoology set. Kudos to the authors for imparting their knowledge of wildlife in an entertaining mystery with more twists and turns than a snake." --Jessica Speart, author of Unsafe Harbor __________________________________________________________________ "A female zoologist named Snake, a hungry crocodile named Sebastian, a feisty kangaroo named Boomer, and lots of other wildly interesting characters populate this debut mystery...Add a foxy plot, plenty of creepy-crawly action, a shrewd conclusion and what have you got? A beastly good book!" --Amanda Matetsky, author of Murder on a Hot Tin Roof __________________________________________________________________ "This mystery has teeth! It grabbed me from the start and wouldn't let go." --Susan Sizemore, author of Primal Heat __________________________________________________________________ "Death Roll is not only smart and intriguing, it's a roaring good time. Victor and Mallory have created a winner. Full of action and empathy, it will keep you turning pages well into the night." --Lois Greiman, author of Unscrewed __________________________________________________________________ "...this is a fine amateur sleuth tale in which Snake's investigation enables the audience to see what goes on behind the exhibits of a zoo. The deep look at a zoo is cleverly interwoven into the whodunit, but is so well done, the Minnesota Valley Zoo feels like a key character. Fans will enjoy this fine murder mystery in which every clue points toward JR being a killer hiding his illegal peddling of wild animals with only Snake and Jeff having doubts that are slowly vanishing with one clue after another." --Harriet Klausner, BookReview.com “Great mystery, great book!” “...You will learn things about animals that you never knew, and what goes on behind the scenes, and the camaraderie between people who make things happen at the zoo." "It's hard to believe this is their first book." --Janet Rosenthal and Marion Stein, Docents ___________________________________________________________________ "...an engaging romp..." "...Despite the fact that this is a novel, its conservation-themed undertones may well provide subliminal education to those who read it." "As the busy summer zoo season winds down, you might want to put this title on your winter reading list...It's a great escape into a murder mystery within the zoo world." --Animal Keepers' Forum, September 2007, the official monthly publication of AAZK, the American Association of Zoo Keepers ___________________________________________________________________ "...Boy, did I learn a lot about zoos, and boy, was I impressed. I wanted to "I've never had such a good time with a book. Treat yourself, and no --Radine Trees Nehring, author of the "To Die For" series. _________________________________________________________________ "I loved the zoo setting for this mystery. Snake and Jeff are fabulous characters. The zoo really lent itself to the cozy genre with the 'small town' feel of the employees and supporters. "I found myself not wanting to put this book down. I can't wait to read another one in this series. I hope the writers write a little faster!" --Dawn Dowdle, Mystery Lovers Corner www.mysteryloverscorner.com ______________________________________________________________________________________________ "The most fun I've had reading a mystery in a long time! It's a mystery why no other author has given readers a zoo setting before -- lots of behind-the-scenes animal fascination and human intrigue here. A wow of a book!" -- Connie Fletcher, author of Crime Scene: Inside the World of the Real CSIs _________________________________________________________________ "Death Roll is a fun read. The action is well paced and the plot does not sag. Most of the characters have depth, so readers feel like they are getting to know new neighbors. What makes this book come alive is that the scene of the crime is our very own Minnesota Zoo. " --Mary Schoen, Twin Cities Daily Planet __________________________________________________________________ "What a fun, fun book!...I can't wait to read the next in the series. Clever and very engaging." --Theresa Barnaby, Ms. Tree's Mystery Reviews, Richlund Public Library, Richlund, Washington __________________________________________________________________ “The unique setting, fun characters and great story kept me glued to this mystery novel. The colorful descriptions of zoo life made me feel I was right there with Jeff and Snake Jones. Some parts of the story made me laugh out loud; they were hilarious. I can’t wait for the next Snake Jones mystery. I loved Death Roll!” __________________________________________________________________ "Marilyn Victor and Michael Allan Mallory have given mystery readers a treat...[Death Roll] is fast-paced, exciting and often amusing." --Doris Ann Norris, "The 2000 year old librarian" and famous reader.
rush out and visit a zoo (almost any well-run zoo) while I was reading this
novel, but all my "for me" time was spent reading the book. The story,
featuring zookeeper Snake Jones and her husband Jeff, an import from
Australia who's "into crocodiles" fascinated me. There was new and
exciting information on every page, and the mystery (who killed the zoo
director, and why?, plus much more bad stuff and close calls) kept me
guessing. There were enough hints to point to the true killer, and I had
suspicions, but didn't really get it until the tell-all ending. The plot
is terrific and exciting. All the characters are real, with involved human
emotions and motivations. And the zoo setting? Well, you can almost
smell the "Zoo-Doo," if you know what I mean...
matter what type mystery you think you like best, buy this book and join
the DEATH ROLL."
"There were plenty of secrets and corruption to keep me guessing at the killer's identity. And there were plenty of twists and turns in the plot to keep me reading.
--Marcia Cummings, Forensic Artist, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension