Death on Demand by Caroyln G. Hart
Jun. 9th, 2008 07:41 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snugglekittyI picked up this book based on a review by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bloodykeri. Apparently it is the first in a long series that she likes a lot.
Annie Laurance is the proprietress of an island mystery shop she inherited from her deceased uncle. The tourists have left for the season and she is settling in with her regulars. The odious Elliot Morgan, detested by everyone, is about to publish a book revealing the secrets of all the island's mystery writers (of which there are many). She asks him to change the topic he will use when he speaks to her group of Sunday Night Regulars. He refuses and threatens to raise the rent on her store. Oh nos! Therefore, when he winds up dead at the meeting, she becomes the prime suspect.
I thought that this book was too clever. Too clever by half. Tons of writers living on one island, all of them writing mysteries? Every single writer having at least one dangerous secret? A raven named Edgar and a cat named Agatha? There were many, many mystery references which were not explained - ones only a maven would really understand. I'm a mystery fan but only in a casual way, and I've never heard of most of the referenced titles. I also never really got attached to any of the characters except the ex-boyfriend Max Darling (speaking of too clever!). I won't be following this series. Two stars.
bloodykeri. Apparently it is the first in a long series that she likes a lot.Annie Laurance is the proprietress of an island mystery shop she inherited from her deceased uncle. The tourists have left for the season and she is settling in with her regulars. The odious Elliot Morgan, detested by everyone, is about to publish a book revealing the secrets of all the island's mystery writers (of which there are many). She asks him to change the topic he will use when he speaks to her group of Sunday Night Regulars. He refuses and threatens to raise the rent on her store. Oh nos! Therefore, when he winds up dead at the meeting, she becomes the prime suspect.
I thought that this book was too clever. Too clever by half. Tons of writers living on one island, all of them writing mysteries? Every single writer having at least one dangerous secret? A raven named Edgar and a cat named Agatha? There were many, many mystery references which were not explained - ones only a maven would really understand. I'm a mystery fan but only in a casual way, and I've never heard of most of the referenced titles. I also never really got attached to any of the characters except the ex-boyfriend Max Darling (speaking of too clever!). I won't be following this series. Two stars.