Hello, All,
Welcome to another edition of Introducing… Some of you have already discovered today’s “guest,” but for those of you who haven’t “met” her yet, let me introduce Toronto’s own Jill Edmondson. Here’s how she describes herself:
Jill Edmondson is the author of the Sasha Jackson mystery series. There’s a thin line between Jill and her sleuth Sasha, although Jill has never worked at a phone sex hotline, and Sasha isn’t a language geek. Jill is originally from Ottawa, but has lived in Toronto since 1987, minus a couple of years teaching English in Mexico.
By day, Jill is a post-secondary communications professor at George Brown College and the University of Toronto. As well, Jill is very involved in ESL assessment and test development. When she’s not writing whodunits or busting people for improperly using semi-colons, Jill enjoys bumming around any country where they speak a Latin-based language. She loves head banging rock concerts, ice cream and palm trees, and hates the colour orange and the letter V.
Jill is currently working on the bio of an underrated rock and blues guitar god, as well as the next Sasha Jackson mystery.
Edmondson’s sleuth Sasha Jackson is a former rock singer and Toronto private investigator who gets all sorts of interesting cases. She has another part-time job, too, but… well, it’s best if you read about it. 
In her first outing Blood and Groom, Jackson gets a visit from art 
dealer Christine Arvisais, who wants her name cleared of suspicion of murder. Arvisais’ fiancé Gordon Hanes was killed eight months ago, and no-one was ever arrested. But rumours are going round and several people think that Arvisais is guilty. She isn’t exactly a likeable character but Jackson can use the money and the “credibility boost,” as she’s just starting out in the business. So she takes the case and begins to look into Hanes’ murder. What she soon discovers is that Hanes was involved in some very shady dealings, including drugs, forgery and insider trading. She also finds out that Hanes’ family aren’t exactly a close-knit group either and that her own client could very well be guilty. So there’s more than one suspect in this murder.
Thus far, there are three Sasha Jackson mysteries: Blood and Groom, Dead Light District and The Lies Have It. In Dead Light District, Jackson is hired by Candace Curtis, who owns and runs a bordello. Curtis is concerned because one of her employees Mary Carmen Santamaria has disappeared. Jackson goes looking for Mary Carmen and ends up getting involved in the world of prostitution and human trafficking. And in The Lies Have it, Jackson agrees to help her friend Jessica tend bar for a party for Bound For Glory, a fetish club that’s holding an event. When club member Ian Dooley is found murdered, Jackson gets involved in the investigation. In the meantime, she’s also on the hunt for runaway teen Macy Edquist. In both cases, Jackson shows the reader all sides of Toronto life.
The Sasha Jackson mysteries are interesting stories with a bit of edge and “bite.” There’s a sense of humour throughout them, though. Here, for instance, is how Jackson describes Christine Arvisais in Blood and Groom:
“Some women seemed naked without jewellery. The uptight, Manolo-shod Chihuahua who barged into my office without an appointment seemed naked without an entourage… Listening to the little, bottle-blonde b**** barking at me, I automatically figured the guy who had dumped her must have had a good reason.”
An academic with an interest in language who also writes crime fiction…hmm…. Do you wonder I wanted to introduce you to Jill Edmondson?
Want to know more about Jill?
An interview with Jill at Bill Selnes’ excellent blog Mysteries and More from Saskatchewan
Want to know more about the Sasha Jackson mysteries?
Thanks for the intro to Jill, Margot. I have not read any of the Sasha Jackson mysteries, but I certainly will now.
Pat – I think you’ll like them. They’re sassy and fun but at the same time, the solutions aren’t obvious and there’s a solid undercurrent of character and plot.
Yes, thanks for the introduction! Will have to add her books to my list!
CK – I don’t think you’ll regret it
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And she’s just as sassy in person!
Melodie – So much the better
Margot: What could be better on a Friday night? An excellent post on one of my favourite authors by one of my favourite bloggers. Exchanging emails with Jill always brightens my day. Thanks for the link to my blog.
Bill – Thank you
and I’m glad you enjoyed the post. And it was my pleasure to link to your excellent blog.
Clever titles! It seems to be required of the more light-hearted books now. PA
Patti – I like those titles too. And it does seem that books need to have catchy titles like that. In fact, you’re inspiring me for a new post – thanks
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She sounds like an author I would like very much. I’ll be sure to look for her work.
Barbara,
Oh, I do hope you like Edmondson’s work. She’s got quite a lot of talent.
I totally understand why you love Jill Edmondson. And she’s a fellow Canadian who has also lived in Mexico. I’m going to check her books out. Love your new profile pic, Margot.
Clarissa – Thank you
. And I think you will really enjoy Jill’s books. They’re witty, intelligent and the mysteries in them are engaging.