Support Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander-owned small businesses
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$2.99 with 70 percent savings
Print List Price: $9.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.

Audiobook Price: $15.04

Save: $7.55 (50%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Marc Jedel
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Uncle and Ants: A Silicon Valley Mystery (Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Marc Jedel (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 2,343 ratings

Mysterious attacks. Mischievous nieces. Can a clueless uncle catch a killer without losing his job—or his life?

The stakes are high when tech-savvy criminals and an amateur sleuth collide. After Marty Golden’s sister is hospitalized, clues lead him to tangle with gangsters, a cantankerous school secretary, and a perplexing woman he can’t help but fall for. With nothing but an eye for detail and powers of self-delusion, can Marty catch the killer before he gets unplugged?

Too bad this quirky, fashion-backward uncle isn’t exactly hero material. Left in charge of his two precocious nieces, glitches in his investigation seem like a piece of cake compared to dinner-prep and bedtime stories with his two pre-teen nieces.

Uncle and Ants is the first novel in a refreshingly modern mystery series set in Silicon Valley. If you're looking for a clever, humorous mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end, then you'll love this twisty novel.

Buy Uncle and Ants to login to a fresh, funny mystery series today!

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 6
    Silicon Valley Mystery
  2. Print length
    309 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    October 11, 2018
  5. File size
    2.8 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details
Unwell Hydration from Alex Cooper
Hydrate & focus with every sip Shop now

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 6 books in this series.

Customers also bought or read

Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
Next page
Loading...

From the Publisher

Silicon Valley Mystery Series on yellow background of sunset with palm tree
Brief description of book 1
Uncle and Ants (#1)
Chutes and Ladder (#2)
Serf and Turf (#3)
Box Set: Books 1-3
Fish Out of Water (#1)
Rivers and Creaks (#1)
Buying Options
Buying Options
Buying Options
Buying Options
Buying Options
Buying Options
Customer Reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars 2,343
4.3 out of 5 stars 324
4.2 out of 5 stars 117
4.2 out of 5 stars 387
4.4 out of 5 stars 750
4.2 out of 5 stars 35
Price $2.99 $2.99 $4.99 $6.99 $2.99 $0.99
Synopsis Can a clueless uncle catch a tech-savvy killer before death strikes again? When a camping trip uncovers a murder, this amateur sleuth is stuck putting out the fire He’s afraid of losing his girlfriend. But maybe he should be more concerned about the dead body she’s crying over? Three books for less First in another humorous, clean cozy series by the author First in yet another humorous, clean cozy series. Think "Grumpy Old Men" meets "Schitt's Creek"
Kindle Unlimited ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Digital ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Paperback ✓ ✓ ✓ no data ✓ ✓
Audiobook ✓ ✓ ✓ Available individually ✓ ✓

Editorial Reviews

Review

★★★★★ "Filled with suspense, the story's appealing characters and humorous situations create an exceptional and entertaining plot which ensnares the reader. The author's relaxed writing style is engaging, and once you start reading the book, you can't put it down." -- ReadersFavorite.com

★★★★★"Uncle and Ants, the first in a new series, is a totally hilarious delight to read and enjoy . . . If you want laugh-out-loud humor and a puzzling cozy mystery, look right here." -- Mallory Heart's Cozies

★★★★★"Uncle and Ants is full of fun and charm and a bit quirky just like the characters." -- My Reading Journeys

★★★★★"This new series could take the cozy world by storm. It has quirky characters, a mystery with multiple suspects, and two precocious girls that sometimes steal the spotlight--OK, often steal the spotlight!" -- Storeybook Reviews

★★★★★"With humor and bumbling, the story has unique twists and a steady pace. If you're looking for something different in a cozy mystery, you'll want to keep your eye on this new series." -- Christa Reads and Writes

★★★★★ "positively Evanovich-esque" -- Amazon Customer

★★★★★ "I had a hard time putting down this book, and it kept me riding extra on my indoor bike! Marty is a funny leading character whose snarky inner voice adds a lot of humor. Right when you assume something is going to happen, you're thrown a plot twist." -- Mystery Gal

★★★★★ "If you've enjoyed Carl Hiassen books like Razor Girl or Bad Monkey, this should be a must read for you! It's a modern high-tech thriller with great human insights." -- Jay

★★★★★ "Lots of plot twists. A great depiction of life in Silicon Valley, the craziness and speed and some ruthlessness, but with a kind eye. Resembles the #1 Ladies' Detective Agency series in that both authors write about nice, every day people whose purpose is to help others." -- Rosie

★★★★★ "I have read almost every Janet Evanovich book and found Marc Jedel's style and characters are similar, you want to see the continuation of their mis-adventures." -- Waywest

From the Author

Uncle and Ants is the first book in the Silicon Valley Mystery series. Try the other books in the series to follow the continuing adventures of Marty and his friends. Join the mailing list on Marc's website to get free content, learn about new releases and receive special offers.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07H68L6XR
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ BGM Press (October 11, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 11, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.8 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 309 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1732716404
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 2,343 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Marc Jedel

Marc Jedel

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Marc Jedel writes humorous murder mysteries. Years in Silicon Valley marketing leadership positions honed his sense of humor and writing skills. Crafting fiction on the job was simply called emails, ads, and marketing collateral.

The publication of Marc’s first novel, Uncle and Ants, gave him permission to claim “author” as his job. This leads to much more interesting conversations with people than answering, “marketing.”

Like his character, Andy, from the Redwoods Country Mystery series, Marc continues to grow older and would prefer not to run a bed-and-breakfast inn when he retires. Like his character, Marty, from the Silicon Valley Mystery series, Marc now lives in Silicon Valley, works in high-tech, and enjoys bad puns. Like his characters Jonas and Elizabeth from the Ozarks Lake Mystery series, he grew up in the South and spent plenty of time in and around Arkansas. Like all his protagonists, Marc too has a dog, although his is neurotic, sweet, and small, with little appreciation for Marc’s humor.

Visit his website (marcjedel .com) for free chapters of novels, special offers, and more.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
2,343 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers enjoy this mystery book for its laugh-out-loud humor and fast-paced plot with surprising twists, particularly appreciating the well-developed characters and sparkling dialogue. Customers find the story completely believable and charming, with one customer noting its unique Silicon Valley setting. The readability receives mixed reactions, with some finding it a fast read while others find it frustratingly illogical.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

259 customers mention "Enjoyment"253 positive6 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, describing it as a laugh-out-loud mystery that makes reading enjoyable, with one customer noting its fun jabs at Silicon Valley.

"...Read this book to laugh out loud and learn. A nice combination in any genre...especially mystery...." Read more

"The book grabs your Interest right from the start, is witty and has some unusual tech references in...." Read more

"...The book was entertaining and gave me a few smiles and even a couple of chuckles...." Read more

"Uncle & Ants is a fun story of murder, corporate hijinks, rogue drones, precocious children, and self-driving vehicles...." Read more

177 customers mention "Plot twists"156 positive21 negative

Customers enjoy the plot twists in this light-hearted/cozy murder mystery, particularly appreciating the surprising ending.

"...And he does this with a wry and refreshing perspective that somehow avoids cynicism. Read this book to laugh out loud and learn...." Read more

"...All in all a fun read and great diversion from my normal hard mysteries.👍👍..." Read more

"...I loved this book! The murder mystery plot was entertaining and I really liked the author’s light-hearted look at life, family relationships, and..." Read more

"I thought this was a good story. So cute and made me chuckle a time or two. I'll have to read more about the uncle from this story." Read more

116 customers mention "Character development"111 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, finding them delightful and extremely funny, with one customer noting the protagonist's easy-going nature.

"...Marty is a smart, self deprecating and endearing character who solves a mystery and improves his love life...." Read more

"...I especially liked the book’s central character — Marty — a software engineer at a self-driving car start-up who lives alone but is close with his..." Read more

"...With a very lovable main character and sub characters that are believable and real, you will get hooked after the first few pages...." Read more

"...I really enjoyed this story and the characters. Marty is an unusual protagonist and I was totally entertained by his antics...." Read more

99 customers mention "Wit"92 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the book's sparkling dialogue and find it an easy, humorous read with clean language.

"I could not put down this fresh and witty book...." Read more

"The book grabs your Interest right from the start, is witty and has some unusual tech references in...." Read more

"...The book was entertaining and gave me a few smiles and even a couple of chuckles...." Read more

"...Very talented author indeed!" Read more

37 customers mention "Believable story"37 positive0 negative

Customers find the story believable and relatable.

"I could not put down this fresh and witty book. Marty is a smart, self deprecating and endearing character who solves a mystery and improves his..." Read more

"...very lovable main character and sub characters that are believable and real, you will get hooked after the first few pages...." Read more

"...These core characters are all cleverly written and genuine. The school secretary though is quite a character...." Read more

"...jokes and his wacky personal thoughts that are not always “PC” but very relatable...." Read more

31 customers mention "Pacing"22 positive9 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, describing it as fast and modern, with one customer noting its believable character development.

"...he runs into a host of odd, comedic characters, who are clever and quick witted (although not always helpful), making Uncle and Ants a mysterious,..." Read more

"...It was also a smooth and fast read; a "page-turner"...." Read more

"...I would love to give it 5 stars but it was really wordy and slow moving. I’m hoping the next in the series is better" Read more

"fun book to read, good pace, funny, I will read more from this author! I look forward to his next book." Read more

30 customers mention "Creativity"30 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's creativity, describing it as charming and clever, with one customer noting how the visual elements kept the story engaging.

"This author has a very interesting style. The storyline keeps you anxious to see what's happening next...." Read more

"I thought this was a good story. So cute and made me chuckle a time or two. I'll have to read more about the uncle from this story." Read more

"The book is cute and I had to finish it. I would love to give it 5 stars but it was really wordy and slow moving...." Read more

"...Uncle Marty is a creative, energetic, funny engineer trying to accomplish too many things at the same time; solving his sister's mysterious "attack"..." Read more

35 customers mention "Readability"13 positive22 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's readability, with some finding it frustrating and illogical, while others appreciate the tech references and commentary about cubicles.

"Often witty, sometimes funny, but definitely too much filler...." Read more

"...grabs your Interest right from the start, is witty and has some unusual tech references in...." Read more

"...character, Marty, is really annoying, and for a programmer, not very analytical. Instead, he jumps to conclusions based on little or no evidence...." Read more

"...The book isn't a technical read, but it certainly makes fun of a slightly futurist Silicon Valley and it's nerdy culture...." Read more

Love Marty!!
5 out of 5 stars
Love Marty!!
Dollycas’s Thoughts We meet Marty Golden when he is notified his sister has been injured in a scary car accident. She will be in the hospital for a while and Marty needs to step up and take care of her daughters. The man isn’t really equipped to be an all-star uncle but with a little help from his neighbor, Mrs. Kim, he is able to take care of the girls. Back at the hospital, a mislabeled room leads to the death of one of the patients. Marty knows right away the woman was murdered and that his sister was the real target but with her unconscious, he is grasping at straws to figure out why. He finds a couple of clues on his sister’s calendar and decides to investigate on his own. He isn’t any better equipped for that task either but he soldiers on to get answers and protect his sister. Hopefully, he survives the endeavor. Oh, my stars! Marty Golden is a hoot and half. Self-proclaimed computer nerd, Marty is a software engineer who writes code for Rover, a company that features a driverless car service. Just use their app to order your car and it shows up to take you wherever you want to go. With the right command, it will even wait for you and take you to another destination. He works with Raj, who is from India who is learning American idioms. Their dialogues cracked me up. His sister Laney recently moved to town and is an HR consultant. She has two daughters, Skye is “twelve going on thirty” and Megan is “nine or eight, or possibly a mature seven”. Skye has a very interesting science fair project, the effectiveness of different feeding regimens of Dorymyrmex insanus, which translates to “crazy ants”. Megan tells her uncle her project is studying milkshakes and that is more up his alley. These core characters are all cleverly written and genuine. The school secretary though is quite a character. She takes her job very seriously and that makes her a thorn in Marty’s side. I loved it! The police detective, a former underwear model, also takes his job seriously but doesn’t take Marty seriously at all. The story moves along at a good clip as Marty travels to try to figure out what kind of trouble his sister is in. Sometimes he even shows up at work to do his actual job. His excursions even take him to a dream employer but before he leaves there he kills any option of ever actually working there. Another laugh-out-loud moment. I will say solving the mystery was not easy, Mr. Jedel twisted the clues up nicely. I really enjoyed this story and the characters. Marty is an unusual protagonist and I was totally entertained by his antics. Uncle and Ants is a great debut for this author and I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • M. M. Lonergan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Funny. Clever. Engaging.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I could not put down this fresh and witty book. Marty is a smart, self deprecating and endearing character who solves a mystery and improves his love life. All the while educating us on cutting edge tech trends.

    The plot is fast moving, with some unexpected twists and turns. This includes one scene which involves face recognition technology used in a way it was surely not intended.

    All this and the author captures life in Silicon Valley perfectly. And he does this with a wry and refreshing perspective that somehow avoids cynicism.

    Read this book to laugh out loud and learn. A nice combination in any genre...especially mystery.

    Oh yes....If you like the character Lord Peter Wimsey and author Dorothy Sayers, Marty is a bit of a modern day, Silicon Valley, slightly techie version of LPW.

    (I received a review copy of this book and all opinions are my own.)
    Helpful
     Report
  • Ron Henderson
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and entertaining. Keeps you engaged.!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The book grabs your Interest right from the start, is witty and has some unusual tech references in. I enjoyed the twist of the nieces invading his bachelor home and their time staying with him. All in all a fun read and great diversion from my normal hard mysteries.👍👍
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • funnygirl224
    3.0 out of 5 stars Would have been better if it had been shorter
    Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Often witty, sometimes funny, but definitely too much filler. I reached a point where I almost didn't care whodunnit, I just wanted to finish it so I could be done with what he fed the nieces for breakfast. I realized early on that this was somewhat autobiographical and I suppose the author was going for self deprecating humor, BUT - I know a lot of engineers. Hardware, software, biotech, aerospace, etc. and I have never met a dumb one. Socially awkward? Sure. Tendency to focus on minutia? You bet. And funnily enough a lot of them tend to brevity in conversation while being wordy on paper (so I guess the length shouldn't have surprised me). Marty, the protagonist and uncle is just too naive and out of touch with reality. The most believable character in this book was Brody, the awesome barista. The book was entertaining and gave me a few smiles and even a couple of chuckles. Thirty per cent less of it and I'd have probably given it four stars.
    5 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • CatK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun techie murder mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Uncle & Ants is a fun story of murder, corporate hijinks, rogue drones, precocious children, and self-driving vehicles.
    I was excited to read a book set in Silicon Valley by a new author and Uncle & Ants did not disappoint. I especially liked the book’s central character — Marty — a software engineer at a self-driving car start-up who lives alone but is close with his sister and two young nieces. When Marty’s sister is injured, he decides to help the police by launching his own investigation while at the same time caring for the two highly spirited, young girls. As Marty travels around town looking for witnesses and clues in his self-driving car, he runs into a host of odd, comedic characters, who are clever and quick witted (although not always helpful), making Uncle and Ants a mysterious, funny and exciting read.
    I loved this book! The murder mystery plot was entertaining and I really liked the author’s light-hearted look at life, family relationships, and the ups and downs of living in Silicon Valley. I can’t wait to read the next book and see what other amateur-sleuth adventures Marty finds himself in. I received an ARC at no cost and my opinions are my own.
    Helpful
     Report
  • CanaRed
    5.0 out of 5 stars Alternatingly humorous and laugh out loud funny
    Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This author has a very interesting style. The storyline keeps you anxious to see what's happening next. With a very lovable main character and sub characters that are believable and real, you will get hooked after the first few pages. Written with a twist of humor sprinkled liberally throughout, this is a most enjoyable reading experience. Very talented author indeed!
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I thought this was a good story. So cute and made me chuckle a time or two. I'll have to read more about the uncle from this story.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Carol
    5.0 out of 5 stars funny and clever mystery about Silicon Valley life
    Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I found "Uncle and Ants: A Silicon Valley Mystery" by Marc Jedel to be humorous, witty, and absorbing. It was also a smooth and fast read; a "page-turner". Since I, myself, am a Silicon Valley engineer I could readily get into the shoes (smelly as they were) of the main character, Marty. The fact that I knew many (most?) of the locations in the story also helped draw me in. But even if you're not a Silicon Valley engineer the story will pull you in on several levels. It's set in a not-too-distant future when various advances, delivery drones and self-driving cars in particular, have become common place. Mr. Jedel wisely refrains from identifying the year that the story takes place, leaving us to intuit that. I think that helped make the transition to his future from our present, when all these things are under development now in Silicon Valley, seem all the more natural and matter-of-fact.

    But the technology angle is just one compelling aspect of the story. Marty is nerdy, while deeply concerned about doing the right thing. He tries to be funny and witty, with varying degrees of success, and that makes him seem vulnerable and likeable. How he relates to others, but particularly to his two nieces, is perhaps the biggest part of the story's interest. Yes, a crime mystery is the thread that holds the plot together, but there is far more going on here. I recommend this story to anyone wishing an entertaining and clever story, but who also want a special window into the Silicon Valley mind-set. I received a review copy of the book in advance.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Francesco Miticocchio
    3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting atmospheres, poor writing
    Reviewed in Italy on June 2, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The plot of the book is interesting. The story is happening in a future not to distant from now that is described in a very realistic way. It is full of surprises and consistent to the end.
    The writing itself can be improved, in my opinion it is very “basic”. We may think that it is the style of the author, but the impession is that it is all the author has to give.
    Report
  • sorlisak
    5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and entertaining
    Reviewed in Australia on July 30, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book The characters are real, the situations hilarious and the story line intriguing I couldn't put it down. I can recommend it to everyone who likes a good, interesting and witty read
    Report
  • Janice L
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and funny cozy mystery
    Reviewed in Canada on August 13, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The first of the A Silicon Valley Mystery series, Uncle and Ants is a fun, funny cozy mystery that kept me tapping the screen right to the end. The characters are unique and varied, well, mostly. At one point, Meghan meets Megan, and then I had to pay close attention! The similarity in names only adds to the quirkiness of the story.

    Uncle Marty, who tells the tale in first person, ends up taking care of his nieces, Skye and Megan, while their mother, Laney, is in hospital after a strange vehicle accident. What follows is a zany array of crazy ants (Dorymyrmex insanus, to be precise), drones, Rover cars that drive themselves, attempted murder, milkshake testing, drug lords, Mrs. Quarles the horrible, Mrs. Kim the lovely, Mace Jackson the cop who used to be a...well, you'll have to find that out on your own.

    The plot is humorous to begin with, even though it hovers around keeping someone from killing Marty's sister, Laney, but add in wit, sarcasm, puns, off-the-wall jokes, misunderstandings, and it rocks along hilariously. As Skye says to Marty at one point, "It's a new thing, just go with it." An enjoyable read. There are a few instances of language, but it is not gratuitous.

    The second book in the series, Chutes and Ladder, is also up for purchase.
    Report
  • Perkins
    5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and clever, new technology celebrated
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this bungling uncle. The story was clever, the characters well drawn. I thought the school secretary wasa typical dragon lady. I loved the way the main character was distracted by new technology. A really fun read. Very enjoy ablr
    Report
  • C Gregory
    4.0 out of 5 stars Ok read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 4, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I was frustrated whilst reading this book as everything Marty did was assumption on his part of who and why someone was trying to kill his sister. I kept thinking - why not ask her? But it turned out she didn't know either. I nearly gave up but finished it just to see why and who! Not bad read.
    One person found this helpful
     Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report