Step into the gritty, vibrant world of Jeri Howard, where Oakland’s streets hum with secrets and every case cracks open a new mystery! Janet Dawson’s Jeri Howard series is a gem in the private investigator genre, blending sharp-witted sleuthing with the colorful backdrop of the San Francisco Bay Area. Our heroine, Jeri, a former paralegal turned PI, navigates tangled cases that weave personal drama, social issues, and Northern California’s charm into page-turning tales.
With 16 novels and a handful of short stories, this series has carved a niche for fans of tough, relatable female detectives like Kinsey Millhone or Sharon McCone. Ready to follow Jeri’s trail? Let’s dive into her world!
How Jeri Howard Began
Janet Dawson, a former Navy journalist with a knack for storytelling, launched the Jeri Howard series in 1990 with Kindred Crimes, which snagged the St. Martin’s Press/Private Eye Writers of America award for Best First PI Novel. Inspired by her love for the Bay Area, where she’s lived since her military days, Dawson crafted Jeri as a grounded, no-nonsense sleuth. Her background in journalism and legal work lent authenticity to Jeri’s investigations, grounding the series in meticulous research and real-world grit.
Dawson’s goal was to create a modern female PI who could stand toe-to-toe with the genre’s greats. Jeri’s debut set the tone: a missing persons case that unraveled into a web of family secrets, showcasing Dawson’s knack for twisty plots and vivid settings.
The Heart of Jeri Howard
The series kicks off with Kindred Crimes, where Jeri hunts for a missing woman, Renee Foster, only to uncover dark family histories and hidden identities. In Till the Old Men Die, a murder tied to Filipino-American history pulls Jeri into San Francisco’s cultural undercurrents. Take a Number sees her tackling a divorce case that spirals into a deadly hunt for a psychopathic sailor’s hidden fortune. Later, The Things We Keep (2022) finds Jeri digging into a chilling discovery—two skulls in an old Navy footlocker—tying past and present in a haunting mystery.
Dawson’s stories shine through their blend of social commentary and suspense. Themes like domestic violence, homelessness, and corporate corruption thread through Jeri’s cases, giving them depth without preaching. The Bay Area itself is a character, from Oakland’s waterfront to San Francisco’s foggy hills, painted with Dawson’s insider knowledge. Her prose is crisp, her plots intricate, and Jeri’s growth—from a freshly divorced PI to a seasoned sleuth with a steady partner—keeps readers hooked.
Unlike flashier thrillers, the series leans on “shoe-leather” investigation—think stakeouts, courthouse records, and dogged interviews. This realism, paired with Jeri’s wit and compassion, makes each book a satisfying puzzle.
Why Jeri Howard Resonates
Jeri Howard’s staying power lies in her relatability and Dawson’s knack for grounding high-stakes mysteries in everyday struggles. Fans praise Jeri’s tenacity and heart, comparing her to Marcia Muller’s Sharon McCone for her Bay Area savvy. The series has earned critical nods, with Kindred Crimes nominated for Anthony, Macavity, and Shamus awards, and reviewers like Publishers Weekly lauding Jeri’s intelligence and Dawson’s meticulous plotting.
For cozy mystery lovers and hard-boiled fans alike, Jeri offers a bridge: suspenseful yet thoughtful, gritty yet humane. Its focus on a female PI in a male-dominated genre adds a feminist edge, while its Bay Area love letter keeps locals and far-flung readers enchanted.
- First Book: Kindred Crimes (1990)
- Latest Book: The Things We Keep (2022)
- Total Books: 16
- Awards: St. Martin’s Press/PWA Best First PI Novel for Kindred Crimes
Grab Kindred Crimes and dive into Jeri Howard’s world of mysteries, where every clue leads to adventure!