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Death on Demand #3
Something Wicked
Everyone--including mystery bookstore owner Annie Laurance--loves Arsenic and Old Lace. But something wicked is poisoned a local summer stock production as cast members stab each other in the back and props are sabotaged. Worst of all, the star, aging Hollywood beach-blanket hunk Shane Petree, butchers his lines--while getting top billing in bed with wives and teenage daughters around town. No wonder somebody wants to draw his final curtain. With a little help from Miss Marple, Poirot, and Agatha the Bookstore Cat, a pompous prosecutor tries to pin a murder on Max, Annie's own leading man. Unless Annie can prove her darling's innocence, their wedding date's off! Invoking the tried-and-true methods of her favorite literary sleuths, Annie snoops around the greasepaint and glitter of the show-stopper scene if she doesn't watch it, because theatrical murderers never play fair.
226 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1988
57 people are currently reading
875 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn G. Hart
125 books940 followersAlso writing as Carolyn Hart.
An accomplished master of mystery with 46 published books, Carolyn Hart is the creator of the highly acclaimed Henrie O,Death on Demand, and Bailey Ruth Raeburn series. Her books have won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. Letter from Home (2003), her standalone mystery set in Oklahoma, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Her latest book is Dead by Midnight (William Morrow/HarperCollins, 2007). She is one of the founders of Sisters in Crime, an organization for women who write mysteries. She lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma."
New Books: Dead By Midnight Carolyn Hart
DEAD BY MIDNIGHT by Carolyn Hart On Sale March 29
The police say suicide. Annie Darling suspects murder. Max is unconvinced until Annie follows a trail behind the dead woman's house.
Annie unravels the mystery of a towel hidden at midnight in a gazebo, the interesting lack of fingerprints on a crystal mug, blood on a teenager's blue shirt, and the secret of a lovers' tryst. Max plunges deep into the woods to find incriminating evidence.
Annie sets the perfect trap for a merciless killer, but her cell phone rings and Death is on the line.
www.CarolynHart.com
And for cat lovers:
DEAD BY MIDNIGHT by Carolyn Hart
I love to have fun when writing a mystery. If I laugh, I think a reader will laugh. In the Death on Demand series, I especially enjoy writing about Annie Darling's ditzy mother-in-law, Laurel Roethke. Laurel is usually excited about a new interest, something that surprises and often confounds Annie.
In Dead by Midnight, Laurel creates Cat Truth Posters, which she wants Annie to hang in the bookstore. Annie thinks books should be the store's focus, but the posters enchant her.
Each poster features a cat's photograph with a caption. Here are three of the Cat Truth posters;
. . . a silky furred, mitted, and bicolored Ragdoll stretched out on a red silk cushion, looking as comfy as Eva Longoria in a Hanes ad: Go with the Flow.
A rectangular-muzzled, green-eyed, cholocolate colored cat appeared as brooding as a Gothic hero: Always Say Yes to Adventure.
. . . a thick-furred, piebald Siberian forest cat, its white front a brilliant contrast to a charcoal back and head. Its face appeared almost angelic: Always try a Smile First.
And yes, one of the posters points to a killer.
Fun for me and fun, I hope for readers
An accomplished master of mystery with 46 published books, Carolyn Hart is the creator of the highly acclaimed Henrie O,Death on Demand, and Bailey Ruth Raeburn series. Her books have won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. Letter from Home (2003), her standalone mystery set in Oklahoma, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Her latest book is Dead by Midnight (William Morrow/HarperCollins, 2007). She is one of the founders of Sisters in Crime, an organization for women who write mysteries. She lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma."
New Books: Dead By Midnight Carolyn Hart
DEAD BY MIDNIGHT by Carolyn Hart On Sale March 29
The police say suicide. Annie Darling suspects murder. Max is unconvinced until Annie follows a trail behind the dead woman's house.
Annie unravels the mystery of a towel hidden at midnight in a gazebo, the interesting lack of fingerprints on a crystal mug, blood on a teenager's blue shirt, and the secret of a lovers' tryst. Max plunges deep into the woods to find incriminating evidence.
Annie sets the perfect trap for a merciless killer, but her cell phone rings and Death is on the line.
www.CarolynHart.com
And for cat lovers:
DEAD BY MIDNIGHT by Carolyn Hart
I love to have fun when writing a mystery. If I laugh, I think a reader will laugh. In the Death on Demand series, I especially enjoy writing about Annie Darling's ditzy mother-in-law, Laurel Roethke. Laurel is usually excited about a new interest, something that surprises and often confounds Annie.
In Dead by Midnight, Laurel creates Cat Truth Posters, which she wants Annie to hang in the bookstore. Annie thinks books should be the store's focus, but the posters enchant her.
Each poster features a cat's photograph with a caption. Here are three of the Cat Truth posters;
. . . a silky furred, mitted, and bicolored Ragdoll stretched out on a red silk cushion, looking as comfy as Eva Longoria in a Hanes ad: Go with the Flow.
A rectangular-muzzled, green-eyed, cholocolate colored cat appeared as brooding as a Gothic hero: Always Say Yes to Adventure.
. . . a thick-furred, piebald Siberian forest cat, its white front a brilliant contrast to a charcoal back and head. Its face appeared almost angelic: Always try a Smile First.
And yes, one of the posters points to a killer.
Fun for me and fun, I hope for readers
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
May 22, 2021
Annie Lawrence and her finance, Max Darling, have landed parts in the local theater’s summer production of Arsenic and Old Lace. Annie loves the play, so she wants to be enjoying it more, but a series of pranks, growing more serious, have dampened her enthusiasm. Just days before the curtain is supposed to open, one of her fellow actors is killed backstage during the rehearsal. When Max becomes the only suspect in the eyes of the law, Annie jumps in to try to figure out what happened. Can she free Max?
As a fan of Arsenic and Old Lace (the play, which is better than the movie), I really got a kick out of the scenes involving the play. While I did enjoy the book, I’m of two minds about it. The plot is complex, yet everything makes sense when Annie confronts the villain. Yet I felt like the pacing was off. The characters are fun and provide some laughs, but instead of growing over the course of the story, they slip into caricature. The plans for Annie and Max’s wedding provide a funny sub-plot that makes me wonder just what their wedding winds up looking like. This book originally came out in 1988, so it and some of the authors name-dropped are dated, but as long as you know that going in, you’ll be fine. This is another case where the flaws are easy to spot, but I still enjoyed the book overall.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
As a fan of Arsenic and Old Lace (the play, which is better than the movie), I really got a kick out of the scenes involving the play. While I did enjoy the book, I’m of two minds about it. The plot is complex, yet everything makes sense when Annie confronts the villain. Yet I felt like the pacing was off. The characters are fun and provide some laughs, but instead of growing over the course of the story, they slip into caricature. The plans for Annie and Max’s wedding provide a funny sub-plot that makes me wonder just what their wedding winds up looking like. This book originally came out in 1988, so it and some of the authors name-dropped are dated, but as long as you know that going in, you’ll be fine. This is another case where the flaws are easy to spot, but I still enjoyed the book overall.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
March 3, 2018
“Something Wicked”, 1988, was awful. A cat was killed!!!!!!!! In horror, we hold our breath, knowing demented crap is the reason for that label. Animals aren't harmed even in that genre unless authors want us horrified. I never consider it acceptable but in a mother F'ing “cozy mystery”, in jealousy over someone a character was leaving anyway? Trivial spite, at a “cozy mystery” town play!?? The traditional victim takes chapters to appear, we don't regret who it is, and know the killer straight off. On page 108, Carolyn G. Hart, called on her jacket a cat-lover, gives her supposed cat-loving heroine this dialogue: “What happened to Freddie was unusually nasty but it was a far cry from murder” What!?
I am appalled at the idea, that only a human death is murder; that solely human deaths count! Was this novel mislabelled? The rest entailed behaviour that was stupid, a novel bent on being comedic. I would normally have enjoyed fellow sleuth, Hetty, invoking fictional detectives. I am an Emily Pollifax and Sister Mary Helen fan. It is hard to imagine a citizen taking a murder as seriously as Hetty does, playing with costumes but I loved it. Admiration was spread thinly. We can suspend disbelief but need a foundation of natural behaviour to support liberties. There were nothing but liberties and little about characterization I respected.
The lamest shtick was committed: arresting the protagonist's lover. Even if I granted that cliché, no investigator would ignore leads. No bias would be tolerated. He would be fired. I wish that were all. Annie and Max are annoying. Inability to like the main characters bodes poorly. We plummeted to one star because Max's mother took up 50% of the book, bugging Annie about wedding ideas. The author considered her oeuvre enough of a comedy to support Max's mother obsessed with wedding-planning, instead of obsessing over understandable peril. If Ms. Hart prefers comedy, stop trying to carve these into mysteries and don't kill cats!!!!!!!!
I am appalled at the idea, that only a human death is murder; that solely human deaths count! Was this novel mislabelled? The rest entailed behaviour that was stupid, a novel bent on being comedic. I would normally have enjoyed fellow sleuth, Hetty, invoking fictional detectives. I am an Emily Pollifax and Sister Mary Helen fan. It is hard to imagine a citizen taking a murder as seriously as Hetty does, playing with costumes but I loved it. Admiration was spread thinly. We can suspend disbelief but need a foundation of natural behaviour to support liberties. There were nothing but liberties and little about characterization I respected.
The lamest shtick was committed: arresting the protagonist's lover. Even if I granted that cliché, no investigator would ignore leads. No bias would be tolerated. He would be fired. I wish that were all. Annie and Max are annoying. Inability to like the main characters bodes poorly. We plummeted to one star because Max's mother took up 50% of the book, bugging Annie about wedding ideas. The author considered her oeuvre enough of a comedy to support Max's mother obsessed with wedding-planning, instead of obsessing over understandable peril. If Ms. Hart prefers comedy, stop trying to carve these into mysteries and don't kill cats!!!!!!!!
September 3, 2023
Goodreads wants to give me 3 stars in the reviews section and 2 stars in the "my books" section.
My actual rating has been revised to 2 stars.
I'm not sure how many more Carolyn Hart's books I'm going to read. This is my third one. My patience is wearing thin with all the mystery books and detective novels Hart is mentioning in her books. She's trying to impress the reader with how many detective and mystery novels she's read and how well she knows these books. All these references to different detectives and mystery solvers takes away from the actual story.
I also don't like the way Max, Annie's fiance, is denigrating Annie's attempt to be serious. There are times when you need a sense of humor, but there are also certain situations that need to be taken seriously. Max was flippant about the whole legal system to the point of being irresponsible and disrespectful. In this particular story, Max would have lost his humor very quickly the minute he was found guilty of first degree murder and then put into the electric chair.
Laurel, Max's mother, belongs in a world of her own.
I'll give one more book a try and if I get more of the same from Hart, I won't be reading any more of her books.
My actual rating has been revised to 2 stars.
I'm not sure how many more Carolyn Hart's books I'm going to read. This is my third one. My patience is wearing thin with all the mystery books and detective novels Hart is mentioning in her books. She's trying to impress the reader with how many detective and mystery novels she's read and how well she knows these books. All these references to different detectives and mystery solvers takes away from the actual story.
I also don't like the way Max, Annie's fiance, is denigrating Annie's attempt to be serious. There are times when you need a sense of humor, but there are also certain situations that need to be taken seriously. Max was flippant about the whole legal system to the point of being irresponsible and disrespectful. In this particular story, Max would have lost his humor very quickly the minute he was found guilty of first degree murder and then put into the electric chair.
Laurel, Max's mother, belongs in a world of her own.
I'll give one more book a try and if I get more of the same from Hart, I won't be reading any more of her books.
August 4, 2010
Yuck. Convoluted mystery (with lots of references to better mysteries). I hate this series, yet picked yet another of them up in search of a quick read. Murder takes place during rehearsal for amateur production of "Arsenic and Old Lace". Lots of references to this as well. Better to stick to reading the stories she mentioned. Please don't let me read another one of these books.
May 25, 2023
Annie continues to confound me. Max I can deal with, Annie 🙄🙄🙄 but whatever. The book was okay.
August 31, 2019
In this small town South Carolina island setting, Annie Laurence, owner of Death on Demand bookstore and member of a local theater group is looking forward to the summer play, Arsenic and Old Lace. When a member of the cast is murdered and her fiancé Max is the prime suspect Annie (and friend Henny) start detecting. Warning: Pet Murder.
April 18, 2017
Third in the Death on Demand mystery series set in a bookstore specializing in mysteries and run by Annie Laurence on Broward's Rock Island in South Carolina.
In 1989, Something Wicked won the Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original; in 1988, it won the Agatha Award for Best Novel.
My Take
There is a very Agatha Christie feel to this mystery, so it's understandable that it won an Agatha award. I have to confess that Annie was very annoying in this story. She takes everything so seriously. Part of me wanted to either smack Annie and tell her to lighten up while another part wanted Annie to smack Max for his being so very amused by the situation. If Annie would simply remember that it's a) her wedding and b) Laurel can't do much without her permission, she'd have a much easier time of it — as would Max. It would probably help if Annie were to actually do something about planning her wedding instead of leaving it up in the air.
It's too funny that Henny keeps running around helping Annie detect by assuming the costume and manner of a different fictional lady detective every day. I'm really impressed that she puts so much effort into the costuming and speech. Where does she find the time?
As always, Hart pulls in comparisons with a multitude of mystery authors, their primary themes, and the characters in their individual series. I've certainly been making my own list of new authors to read.
The Story
Laurel is driving Annie nuts with her suggestions about the wedding. One day it's the Chinese tradition of wearing red and another day it's the Korean custom of the "groom riding a donkey to the bride's house carrying a goose and a gander as a symbol of fidelity" or the Fijian custom of giving a whale's tooth or holding the wedding on top of a pyramid or…
Meanwhile, the Broward's Rock Players are desperate for a financially successful season. After their playhouse burned down in January, the land's owner, Harley Jenkins is threatening to lease the land to a retail shop. The players have to finish the season in the black, if they want Jenkins to rebuild the theater.
Doubt reigns over the first play of the season when they're stuck with Shane Petree. His wife has promised to cover all the expenses for the play if Shane plays Teddy in Arsenic and Old Lace. And Shane is blowing their efforts with his lack of application. No one, however, can decide if it's one of the players or Jenkins who is sabotaging the rehearsals as well.
But it's the party at Sheridan's house that puts Max in the frame as the killer and the sheriff is putting off Annie's efforts to free him.
The Characters
Annie Laurance runs Death on Demand, a bookstore specializing in mysteries and based on Broward's Rock. She has a preference for fast food while Max wants healthy. Guess who'll be doin' the cookin' in this household! Annie is playing Elaine in the play.
Max Darling is a wealthy lawyer playing at detective while his mother Laurel terrorizes Annie about their upcoming September wedding. Max is playing Mortimer in the play. Laurel is a wealthy globe-trotting woman who finds a new cultural tradition every other day that she wants Annie to incorporate into her simple, small wedding. A very touchy-feely, woo-woo kind of woman.
Harley Edward Jenkins III is the CEO of Halcyon Development, owner of the land on which the theater stood. Burt Conroy is president of the Broward Rock Players and stage manager. He made a deal with Sheridan Petree to cast her husband Shane as Teddy Roosevelt. Carla Fontaine runs an art gallery in town and is the set designer and chief carpenter. Arthur Killeen is the local druggist playing Dr. Einstein. Henny Brawley is one of Annie's best customers and plays Aunt Abby. Sam Haznine is the director desperate for a hit back to the top; his current sweetie is not at all happy to be stuck on Broward's Rock. Hugo Wolf plays Jonathan; a heavy hitter with a presence currently retired from his law career. Feel bad for T.K. Horton as he has to cope with both of his women's obsessions: his cheating wife Janet who plays Aunt Martha and their daughter Cindy having an affair. Eugene Ferramond should have played Teddy; he's perfect physically and obsessed with every detail about this Roosevelt's life. Instead Eugene is playing Officer O'Hara.
Chief Saulter is on Annie and Max's side, but he does have to abide by Posey's rulings. Publicly. Brice Willard Posey is an idiot more impressed with his own grandstanding than actually finding out the truth. I do wish that Hart had given us some enjoyment at his "downfall". Jed McClanahan is the lawyer Annie found for Max. Sue Kay Conrad provides a major clue in the case with help from Mrs. Harriet MacKenzie.
The Cover and Title
The cover is spooky with the red velvet theatre curtains parted exposing the trumpet, a playbook, a lit candelabra, and the floating veiled skull grinning out at us! Eeek! The label pinned to the drapery certainly doesn't help!
The title does indeed herald Something Wicked about this group of people.
In 1989, Something Wicked won the Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original; in 1988, it won the Agatha Award for Best Novel.
My Take
There is a very Agatha Christie feel to this mystery, so it's understandable that it won an Agatha award. I have to confess that Annie was very annoying in this story. She takes everything so seriously. Part of me wanted to either smack Annie and tell her to lighten up while another part wanted Annie to smack Max for his being so very amused by the situation. If Annie would simply remember that it's a) her wedding and b) Laurel can't do much without her permission, she'd have a much easier time of it — as would Max. It would probably help if Annie were to actually do something about planning her wedding instead of leaving it up in the air.
It's too funny that Henny keeps running around helping Annie detect by assuming the costume and manner of a different fictional lady detective every day. I'm really impressed that she puts so much effort into the costuming and speech. Where does she find the time?
As always, Hart pulls in comparisons with a multitude of mystery authors, their primary themes, and the characters in their individual series. I've certainly been making my own list of new authors to read.
The Story
Laurel is driving Annie nuts with her suggestions about the wedding. One day it's the Chinese tradition of wearing red and another day it's the Korean custom of the "groom riding a donkey to the bride's house carrying a goose and a gander as a symbol of fidelity" or the Fijian custom of giving a whale's tooth or holding the wedding on top of a pyramid or…
Meanwhile, the Broward's Rock Players are desperate for a financially successful season. After their playhouse burned down in January, the land's owner, Harley Jenkins is threatening to lease the land to a retail shop. The players have to finish the season in the black, if they want Jenkins to rebuild the theater.
Doubt reigns over the first play of the season when they're stuck with Shane Petree. His wife has promised to cover all the expenses for the play if Shane plays Teddy in Arsenic and Old Lace. And Shane is blowing their efforts with his lack of application. No one, however, can decide if it's one of the players or Jenkins who is sabotaging the rehearsals as well.
But it's the party at Sheridan's house that puts Max in the frame as the killer and the sheriff is putting off Annie's efforts to free him.
The Characters
Annie Laurance runs Death on Demand, a bookstore specializing in mysteries and based on Broward's Rock. She has a preference for fast food while Max wants healthy. Guess who'll be doin' the cookin' in this household! Annie is playing Elaine in the play.
Max Darling is a wealthy lawyer playing at detective while his mother Laurel terrorizes Annie about their upcoming September wedding. Max is playing Mortimer in the play. Laurel is a wealthy globe-trotting woman who finds a new cultural tradition every other day that she wants Annie to incorporate into her simple, small wedding. A very touchy-feely, woo-woo kind of woman.
Harley Edward Jenkins III is the CEO of Halcyon Development, owner of the land on which the theater stood. Burt Conroy is president of the Broward Rock Players and stage manager. He made a deal with Sheridan Petree to cast her husband Shane as Teddy Roosevelt. Carla Fontaine runs an art gallery in town and is the set designer and chief carpenter. Arthur Killeen is the local druggist playing Dr. Einstein. Henny Brawley is one of Annie's best customers and plays Aunt Abby. Sam Haznine is the director desperate for a hit back to the top; his current sweetie is not at all happy to be stuck on Broward's Rock. Hugo Wolf plays Jonathan; a heavy hitter with a presence currently retired from his law career. Feel bad for T.K. Horton as he has to cope with both of his women's obsessions: his cheating wife Janet who plays Aunt Martha and their daughter Cindy having an affair. Eugene Ferramond should have played Teddy; he's perfect physically and obsessed with every detail about this Roosevelt's life. Instead Eugene is playing Officer O'Hara.
Chief Saulter is on Annie and Max's side, but he does have to abide by Posey's rulings. Publicly. Brice Willard Posey is an idiot more impressed with his own grandstanding than actually finding out the truth. I do wish that Hart had given us some enjoyment at his "downfall". Jed McClanahan is the lawyer Annie found for Max. Sue Kay Conrad provides a major clue in the case with help from Mrs. Harriet MacKenzie.
The Cover and Title
The cover is spooky with the red velvet theatre curtains parted exposing the trumpet, a playbook, a lit candelabra, and the floating veiled skull grinning out at us! Eeek! The label pinned to the drapery certainly doesn't help!
The title does indeed herald Something Wicked about this group of people.
December 2, 2017
Its a little bit okay...3star
July 31, 2018
It's so formulaic it's hard to enjoy it.
April 16, 2019
Set against a small production of Arsenic and Old Lace, this go round was more fun than the last couple. Aside from everyone being enamoured with each other even though they were despicable, the story was well plotted. I also enjoyed the future mother in law’s nuptial suggestions.
February 12, 2017
Character List
October 31, 2014
"Everyone -- including mystery bookstore owner Annie Lawrence -- loves Arsenic and Old Lace. But something wicked is poisoning a local summer stock production as cast members stab each other in the back and props are sabotaged. Worst of all, the star, aging Hollywood beach-blanket hunk Shane Petree, butchers his lines -- while getting top billing in bed with wives and teenage daughters around town. No wonder somebody wants to draw his final curtain.
"A pompous prosecutor tries to pin a murder on Max, Annie's own leading man. Unless Annie can prove her Darling's innocence, their wedding date's off! Invoking the tried-and-true methods of her favorite literary sleuths, Annie snoops around the greasepaint and glitter of the Arsenic cast's backstage life. She'll be next to star in a knock-'em dead showstopper scene if she doesn't watch it, because theatrical murderers never play fair."
~~back cover
I hate this sort of cutsie, tongue-in-cheek back cover reviews!
The plot remains the same, but the cast of characters definitely gets better! The "pompous prosecutor" is so overdrawn he's hysterical, and Henny Brawley definitely hits her stride as a sleuth of many colors, imitating her favorite literary investigators to a tee.
I must say that Ms. Hart certainly knows her mysteries -- there are many titles dropped throughout the book, from across all the mystery genres. Just investigating those alone is worth the read.
"A pompous prosecutor tries to pin a murder on Max, Annie's own leading man. Unless Annie can prove her Darling's innocence, their wedding date's off! Invoking the tried-and-true methods of her favorite literary sleuths, Annie snoops around the greasepaint and glitter of the Arsenic cast's backstage life. She'll be next to star in a knock-'em dead showstopper scene if she doesn't watch it, because theatrical murderers never play fair."
~~back cover
I hate this sort of cutsie, tongue-in-cheek back cover reviews!
The plot remains the same, but the cast of characters definitely gets better! The "pompous prosecutor" is so overdrawn he's hysterical, and Henny Brawley definitely hits her stride as a sleuth of many colors, imitating her favorite literary investigators to a tee.
I must say that Ms. Hart certainly knows her mysteries -- there are many titles dropped throughout the book, from across all the mystery genres. Just investigating those alone is worth the read.
March 16, 2017
Just couldn't hold my interest.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
September 13, 2018
Annoying
I had forgotten, after reading the first book in this series earlier last year, how much I disliked it because of all the constant naming of books and authors to the extreme, IMO, when I chose to read this one. It was painful to get through and I skipped over most of those parts to get to the end. As a result I am making a note to myself to never read any of this series again.
I had forgotten, after reading the first book in this series earlier last year, how much I disliked it because of all the constant naming of books and authors to the extreme, IMO, when I chose to read this one. It was painful to get through and I skipped over most of those parts to get to the end. As a result I am making a note to myself to never read any of this series again.
November 16, 2016
I really liked the first book in this series, but the second and this one fell flat for me.
After the first book, Annie has become whiny and petulant. She always seems to be crabbing about something and I found everything about her just irritating.
I had hoped for a new favourite series, but this book proved that this won't be something I'll be sticking with.
After the first book, Annie has become whiny and petulant. She always seems to be crabbing about something and I found everything about her just irritating.
I had hoped for a new favourite series, but this book proved that this won't be something I'll be sticking with.
October 10, 2009
Not as good as the first 2, I don't know why, maybe I read it at the wrong time? In any event, I will go on with the series because, being a bookoholic and the protagonist being a mystery bookstore owner...it just seems right...lol
April 7, 2017
I already have the next book in the series, after that is read, I don't believe I will continue.
June 25, 2017
I love the Death On Demand series
Annie and Max Darling are a delightful couple. The name dropping of all the great sleuths and mystery writers is filling out my reading list.
Annie and Max Darling are a delightful couple. The name dropping of all the great sleuths and mystery writers is filling out my reading list.
January 10, 2024
Like another reviewer, I plan to read one more in the series before giving up one it. But not for a while. Unlike some other reviewers, I am glad that Annie Laurance keeps dropping the names of classic mystery books and authors. She gives me ideas for further reading that will be more enjoyable than this book.
To be fair, I might have enjoyed it more if I had seen or read Arsenic and Old Lace lately. It's possible the many nondescript male characters would have been easier to remember if I could picture the roles they played. The only sympathetic male character was the Sheriff.
As for the fiance, the overly cutely named Max Darling...well, I hope the next book in the series has Annie finding a fiendishly clever way of disposing of him (and framing the real estate developer for it would be icing on the red cake). His poor mother? She would probably busy herself organizing the perfect funeral, possibly followed by a seance. No sympathy to spare for her either.
The first dead body is a cat. My former mystery readers' book club at the Somerville (MA) Public Library would have refused to read the book simply because of that--all the more so since it was unnecessary to the plot. The second dead body shows up about halfway through the book, but it's obvious who it's going to be from early on.
And maybe I'm stupid--shoveling snow will stupefy me sometimes--but what happened to the Buckners and the pistols from Chapter 1?
I would have downgraded the book even further but for some felicitous turns of phrase, like "What can be designed can be divined," and "walking with the eggshell particularity of a drunk."
To be fair, I might have enjoyed it more if I had seen or read Arsenic and Old Lace lately. It's possible the many nondescript male characters would have been easier to remember if I could picture the roles they played. The only sympathetic male character was the Sheriff.
As for the fiance, the overly cutely named Max Darling...well, I hope the next book in the series has Annie finding a fiendishly clever way of disposing of him (and framing the real estate developer for it would be icing on the red cake). His poor mother? She would probably busy herself organizing the perfect funeral, possibly followed by a seance. No sympathy to spare for her either.
The first dead body is a cat. My former mystery readers' book club at the Somerville (MA) Public Library would have refused to read the book simply because of that--all the more so since it was unnecessary to the plot. The second dead body shows up about halfway through the book, but it's obvious who it's going to be from early on.
And maybe I'm stupid--shoveling snow will stupefy me sometimes--but what happened to the Buckners and the pistols from Chapter 1?
I would have downgraded the book even further but for some felicitous turns of phrase, like "What can be designed can be divined," and "walking with the eggshell particularity of a drunk."
May 6, 2019
Another mystery solved. Okay so mom has a little back story on this one. Mom when she was younger, went to a play with her father that was being put on by his high school, Burlington High School, and thought it was the best play ever. It was she later learned called Arsenic and Old Lace. The point of this story ties into the book because that is the play that makes up the book and man oh man did it hit some nostalgic memories for mom. We would like to state the nostalgia made sway our rating and if you have not seen the play Arsenic and Old Lace. Than stop reading, and go and see the play.
As for the mystery and the book it’s self. Well first off mom found the mystery to be very good and was happy to see Annie and Max. Annie and Max seemed very good together, only thing that kept bugging mom was that Max’s mom kept over powering Annie with how she want to do the wedding, Max and Annie are getting married, (No this not a spoiler because it said on the back in the synopsis, and if you read the second book you would have seen it mentioned there to); and Max did nothing, I am not saying he need to be mean, but telling his mom she is starting to over whelm Annie seemed a little inconsiderate, and Annie would have appreciated too. Sigh. Oh well. Max’s mom does start to do something nice for Annie in the end. Mom just wishes it was because Max help.
I know this not talking about the mystery, but sense the wedding kept intruding it felt very important to add that in. Annie again is on the case. It did like the help she got from the Police Chief, and her mystery client/ fellow thespian. I also like how Annie got to interact with all the suspects. It was a very complete mystery and, as always, mom looks forward to reading the next in the series.
As for the mystery and the book it’s self. Well first off mom found the mystery to be very good and was happy to see Annie and Max. Annie and Max seemed very good together, only thing that kept bugging mom was that Max’s mom kept over powering Annie with how she want to do the wedding, Max and Annie are getting married, (No this not a spoiler because it said on the back in the synopsis, and if you read the second book you would have seen it mentioned there to); and Max did nothing, I am not saying he need to be mean, but telling his mom she is starting to over whelm Annie seemed a little inconsiderate, and Annie would have appreciated too. Sigh. Oh well. Max’s mom does start to do something nice for Annie in the end. Mom just wishes it was because Max help.
I know this not talking about the mystery, but sense the wedding kept intruding it felt very important to add that in. Annie again is on the case. It did like the help she got from the Police Chief, and her mystery client/ fellow thespian. I also like how Annie got to interact with all the suspects. It was a very complete mystery and, as always, mom looks forward to reading the next in the series.
September 25, 2020
After reading the Haunted Bookshop Mysteries by Cleo Coyle, I was hoping for something just as entertaining because of the bookshop theme and not for any ghosts ( but I wouldn't be mad if there were some). But the jury, for me, is still out.
There are about 25 books in this series. I don't know if I will be reading all of them because of the following problems I am having:
1. It takes too long to get to the murder.
2. The reason for #1 is because most of the time is spent listing other mystery authors and characters. Sheesh!
3. I don't feel like there is any real romance between the two main characters (God forgive me, I just finished the friggin book and can't remember their names.)
4. Parts of the books are so dry at times that I feel like I am back in college reading a 600 page textbook.
Maybe I am wrong because there are 25 books in the series. But I hope she improves with the next one.
There are about 25 books in this series. I don't know if I will be reading all of them because of the following problems I am having:
1. It takes too long to get to the murder.
2. The reason for #1 is because most of the time is spent listing other mystery authors and characters. Sheesh!
3. I don't feel like there is any real romance between the two main characters (God forgive me, I just finished the friggin book and can't remember their names.)
4. Parts of the books are so dry at times that I feel like I am back in college reading a 600 page textbook.
Maybe I am wrong because there are 25 books in the series. But I hope she improves with the next one.
March 8, 2022
Ah Annie Laurance, that amateur sleuth and owner of Death on Demand on Broward's Rock in South Carolina. Her mind, as does her number one customer, looks at mysteries as she believes characters in mysteries would do. It makes for a dizzying mindset as Annie, and her fiance, Max, are actors in a summer production of Arsenic and Old Lace — a production plagued by props going missing, little accidents, etc.
But there are also problems with the cast, specifically the casting of aging Hollywood surfer boy hunk Shane Petree, who is out to bed every woman he sees, rather than take his role in the play seriously. Everyone has begun to hate him and someone decides to have his name erased from the final credits.
And if that is not enough, there's a pompous prosecutor who has decided he has all the answers and they lead to Max.
These are cute fun mysteries with a lot of wackiness and plenty of hijinx. They make for light, easy reading.
But there are also problems with the cast, specifically the casting of aging Hollywood surfer boy hunk Shane Petree, who is out to bed every woman he sees, rather than take his role in the play seriously. Everyone has begun to hate him and someone decides to have his name erased from the final credits.
And if that is not enough, there's a pompous prosecutor who has decided he has all the answers and they lead to Max.
These are cute fun mysteries with a lot of wackiness and plenty of hijinx. They make for light, easy reading.
July 8, 2018
This wasn't really to my taste. Unfortunate, because I thought it definitely would be; murder set in a theatre context is usually a bulletproof like of mine, and I also thought I would enjoy the allusions to other mystery novels and sleuths.
Sadly, the allusions were too indiscriminate and numerous, and the plot was lackluster. The victim and murderer were clear from the beginning, sapping the drama out of the story, and the red herrings were limp and unpersuasive. Meanwhile, the protagonist's fiance and future mother-in-law weren't just uninteresting, they were downright annoying, even infuriating. He's patronizing and high-handed, and refuses to stop his mother from being a holy terror, even finding his fiancee's strongly-expressed unhappiness to be amusing. Run, Annie, run!
I would not read another book in this series.
Sadly, the allusions were too indiscriminate and numerous, and the plot was lackluster. The victim and murderer were clear from the beginning, sapping the drama out of the story, and the red herrings were limp and unpersuasive. Meanwhile, the protagonist's fiance and future mother-in-law weren't just uninteresting, they were downright annoying, even infuriating. He's patronizing and high-handed, and refuses to stop his mother from being a holy terror, even finding his fiancee's strongly-expressed unhappiness to be amusing. Run, Annie, run!
I would not read another book in this series.
September 16, 2018
Everyone--including mystery bookstore owner Annie Laurance--loves Arsenic and Old Lace. But something wicked is poisoned a local summer stock production as cast members stab each other in the back and props are sabotaged. Worst of all, the star, aging Hollywood beach-blanket hunk Shane Petree, butchers his lines--while getting top billing in bed with wives and teenage daughters around town. No wonder somebody wants to draw his final curtain. With a little help from Miss Marple, Poirot, and Agatha the Bookstore Cat, a pompous prosecutor tries to pin a murder on Max, Annie's own leading man. Unless Annie can prove her darling's innocence, their wedding date's off! Invoking the tried-and-true methods of her favorite literary sleuths, Annie snoops around the greasepaint and glitter of the show-stopper scene if she doesn't watch it, because theatrical murderers never play fair.
August 30, 2020
DNF 65%. I became very tired of the endless references to various mysteries most of which I had never heard of and whose relevance was never explained. It was a lot of wink-wink, nudge-nudge that was really irritating. It was much lighter and more fun in the first two books but went into overdrive here. There was even a character who had been very minor in the first two books who suddenly becomes a nut that dresses up and adopts the mannerisms of famous detectives and becomes the one who does the minor legwork for Annie and Max. I wound up not liking any of the characters this time especially since Max‘s mother plays a bit part and is way over the top. I got pretty far into it then decided it wasn’t worth it to finish and gave it up. Not sure if I would pick up the next one in the series or not.
May 29, 2023
This is my first time listening to this series. It was enjoyable. I wouldn't say it was my favorite, but I very much enjoyed the lead 'detective's ' personal admiration and reverence for Poirot and Wolfe - two of my personal favorite detectives as well! It made me feel connected to the character.
This story revolved around a theater play and several times the author listed who was playing whom, but I had a difficult time following. I'm not sure it mattered in the end, but I felt a little lost when the play character's names were used to reference characters in the story. Anywhoo - It was interesting and full of intrigue! If wasn't for the murder part of the mystery, I would call it a cute mystery. The lead character has warm, funny, and bright persona paving the overall attitude and feeling for the story.
I liked it enough to listen to another in the series.
This story revolved around a theater play and several times the author listed who was playing whom, but I had a difficult time following. I'm not sure it mattered in the end, but I felt a little lost when the play character's names were used to reference characters in the story. Anywhoo - It was interesting and full of intrigue! If wasn't for the murder part of the mystery, I would call it a cute mystery. The lead character has warm, funny, and bright persona paving the overall attitude and feeling for the story.
I liked it enough to listen to another in the series.
August 21, 2021
Not bad for a cozy mystery. I've read the series before and I don't quite remember as many references to mystery novels nor one of the characters penchant for imitating popular detectives from various series, that was a little annoying. Annie and Max are both acting in a play at a local theatre and various things keep happening to disrupt the rehearsals, including something happening to someone's pet (which was quite disturbing in a cozy mystery). Someone ends up dying and Max appears to be in the crosshairs of an inept circuit solicitor who draws lots of conclusions with little facts (that portion of the story was not very believable). Annie (proprietor to Death on Demand bookstore) to the rescue.
March 3, 2018
this book was slow moving not the usual action type I'm used to. it has a lot of description and the action waits until you are half-way thru the book. the characters are a bit confusing . it might have been better to include a list of characters with something about them and who they played on stage. this is the first book in this series that I have read.,might not try another one.
November 24, 2018
Okay - which would normally be two stars. But then it loses a star for the gratuitous cat murder, which shouldn't be in a cozy. Plus, the references to other detectives in fiction would presumably have have been known thirty years ago, but I only got about 20% of the references. Don't think I'm going to be reading any more of this series.
did-not-finish
January 19, 2021DNF sadly i was so bogged down with details that I was drowning in boredom. I could not get past all of it to filter what was important to the story. But honestly, much of it wasn't I am sure (Was it necessary to have 3 lines about how she made her coffee?) I was excited for the mystery part but didn't even make it that far.
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