San Francisco, 1964 An amateur sleuth crosses paths with the deadly Mafia! For the past twenty years, widow Grace Tilley has served as the head teller at Bay Savings Bank, located in the charming Cow Hollow neighborhood of San Francisco. Known for her natural talent in solving crimes, puzzles, and mysteries, Grace is revered by her close-knit community. Her dear friend and neighbor, Teresa Bradford, has been summoned to serve on the jury for the murder trial of a prominent local politician. Popular San Francisco Mayor Harlan Scott has been arrested and charged with the fatal stabbing of his mistress in their luxurious Mark Hopkins Hotel penthouse suite. The charismatic mayor and his striking redheaded employee had been embroiled in a passionate affair for months. Now, she has been found dead in their hotel bed, an ornate Italian stiletto plunged deep into her back. Mayor Scott insists he is innocent, but his Mafia associates are determined to secure his acquittal—even if he is guilty. They are prepared to tamper with the jury, targeting Teresa Bradford. The Mafia kidnaps juror Teresa Bradford's six-year-old daughter, Betsy, to force Teresa to vote 'not guilty.’ Meanwhile, the Mafia wreaks havoc on Grace’s community, trafficking drugs and extorting local shop owners. Can Grace Tilley and her clever cat, Gypsy, join forces to find young Betsy Bradford and drive these gangsters out of their neighborhood once and for all? The Juror’s Secret is a captivating and entertaining page-turner by Jimmy Ray Conner that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Experience the thrilling and unexpected climax in this exciting Grace Tilley historical mystery thriller. FIVE STARS from Readers' Favorite In The Juror's Secret by Jimmy Ray Conner, the shining star in the story is widow Grace Tilley, who works at the Bay Savings Bank in Cow Hollow. While this upmarket San Francisco suburb is a lively, thriving area, it faces challenges. Mayor Harlan Scott is on trial for stabbing his mistress, and the Sicilian mafia has moved into town, dealing drugs and running a protection racket on the local businesses. As if this were not serious enough, there is a milk thief on the loose. With ties to the Italian gangs, the mob is determined that the mayor will go free. To accomplish this, one of the jurors, Teresa Bradford, is instructed to find the accused not guilty, and to ensure that she does, her daughter is kidnapped. Grace is an active part of the community, with sharp deductive skills, and invites SFPD Detective Holly Webb to help. It will take the combined efforts of Grace, Holly, and Gypsy the cat to solve the crimes, but will they find the culprits?

 The year 1964 in Cow Hollow is the setting for The Juror's Secret by Jimmy Ray Conner, which stars both Grace Tilley and her niece, Holly Webb. There are several parallel problems to solve and lots of interesting characters to meet. The pace is consistent and keeps the reader engaged. There are appealing descriptions of this San Francisco suburb and fascinating information about the area's history. The trial scenes are realistic yet written simply without legal jargon. An open-and-shut case against the mayor is not what it seems, and it keeps you guessing. I loved the clever twist at the end, which added to the intrigue. A comfortable read that should appeal to a large audience. Reviewed by Lucinda E Clarke