A Cutthroat Business: A Savannah Martin Novel

Savannah Martin Mysteries, Book 1

By: Jenna Bennett

Narrated by: Amanda Stribling

Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Savannah Martin has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball - and bad in bed to boot - Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she’s all set to take the world by storm.

If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs....

Everyone has warned new-minted realtor Savannah Martin that real estate is a cutthroat business. But Savannah doesn’t think she’s supposed to take the warning literally...until an early morning phone call sends her to an empty house on the "bad" side of town, where she finds herself standing over the butchered body of a competitor, face to face with the boy her mother always warned her about.

Rafe Collier is six-feet-three inches of testosterone and trouble; tall, dark, and dangerous, with a murky past and no future - not the kind of guy a perfect Southern Belle should want to tangle with. In any way. But wherever Savannah turns, there he is, and making no bones about what he wants from her.

Now Savannah must figure out who killed real estate queen Brenda Puckett, make a success of her new career, and avoid getting killed - or kissed - by Rafe, all before the money in her savings account runs out and she has to go back to selling make-up at the mall.

©2011 Magpie Ink (P)2019 Magpie Ink

Critic reviews

"With a dose of Southern charm and a bad boy you won't want to forget, A Cutthroat Business has enough wit and sexual chemistry to rival Janet Evanovich!" (New York Times best-selling author Tasha Alexander)

"VERDICT: The hilarious dialog and the tension between Savannah and Rafe will delight fans of chick-lit mysteries and romantic suspense." (Jo Ann Vicarel, Library Journal)

"A frothy girl drink of houses, hunks, and whodunit narrated in a breezy first person.... If you love an umbrella in your drink, grab A Cutthroat Business for a quick beach read." (Lyda Phillips, Nashville Scene)

Love this series

Only complaint is that the narrator mispronounced some words (e.g. facetious, peruse, etc.) The series is fun to read.

Entertaining mystery with a bit of romance

This is a good mystery, the first in the series. I love the varied characters!!! It's a little bit slow moving in parts, but it is an entertaining book with lots of mystery and a bit of romance. I'm enjoying the southern setting. The performance is very good. Very entertaining!

Surprising At The Beginning

This is the first time I listened to a murder mystery with the main characters as Real Estate Agents and this kept me guessing for awhile. The characters were very well written into the story and I look forward to the next book in the series.

It's about time

I am so happy that this series has finally made it to Audible. I have read several of the books in this series and I plan to listen to this series all over again. The characters of Savannah and Rafe are well written and engaging. The story is well developed with lots of twist and turns and just a hint of sexual attraction between the two lead characters. This story also includes the racial and class stereotypes typical of the South. While some might find the attitudes offensive, I found the realistic portrayal refreshing. The narrator has a decent southern drawl, but, she mispronounces words. This is a good series and I plan to go through all of the books again.

Thrilled to LISTEN!! Perfect Cozy!

A Cutthroat Business keeps a great pace as well as packs some surprises. I had read the book when it came out and had forgotten the whole story. It was so exciting to be able to listen to the story and to have the ability to hear the details and nuances. In audio form it shows how well Jenna can keep you engaged in the story and pace. Amanda does a great job on the narration as well. I will continue to purchase these books. They are great for times you want to be involved in a story, but it don't want to be so deeply entrenched that you have to have notes to keep up. This is the perfect Cozy!!

Just not up to reviews

I was very disappointed in this book. There was no depth of character, like everyone was just a stereotype. Story line was boring