Nora Blackbird, society columnist and down-and-almost-out former debutante, reclaims her place within Philadelphia's elite when she stumbles upon t...
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reviews
Dec 07, 2010
Sophie
rated it: 
I wanted to like this story more than I did. I enjoyed the insider's view of Philadelphia society, which seemed authentic enough to me. I liked the main character, Nora, and her spunky determination to survive her family's financial troubles. And I liked the way the author established the mystery and drew me in. But as the story went on, I found myself losing patience with the book. Nora began to seem a little smug and judgmental to me (congratulating herself on preferring a wheelchair racing fu
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Jan 24, 2010
Bernadette
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How to Murder a Millionaire is the first novel in what has become a series of seven (to date) featuring three formerly well-to-do sisters whose parents left them with huge debts before jetting off to a tax haven in the Caribbean. Nora, Emma and Libby Blackbird have also each been widowed (though Libby is re-married). Facing a 2 million dollar tax bill on the farm she inherited from her parents Nora seeks help from and old family friend Rory Pendergast. He gives her a job on the society pages of
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Apr 02, 2009
Elsi
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This was a nice beginning to a cozy mystery series. The prestigious Blackbird family of Philadelphia has fallen on hard times. Mom and Dad have fled the country, leaving what remains of the family's fortune to the three daughters. Emma got the family art collection and Libby received the furniture. Nora was given the farmland -- but it comes with a bill for $2 million in past due property taxes. Since she has no money to pay the tax bill and not wanting to have the property confiscated, Nor
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Feb 26, 2011
Ana
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The cover of this book was misleading... in a good way. The title and cover image give the impression that this is going to be another cozy mystery following in the vein of Janet Evanovich or some other ditzy, fashion-obsessed heroine. On the contrary, I found that the characters were more well-rounded and the story grew steadily with more complex details. The author is good with a phrase as well!
It takes place among the Philadelphia upper-crust and features a smart, thoughtful heroine More...
It takes place among the Philadelphia upper-crust and features a smart, thoughtful heroine More...
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May 26, 2010
Ronica
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Nora Blackbird is a down on luck socialite, who just inherited 2 million dollar tax bill on her family's farmhouse. For the first time in her life Nora has to get a job, but she never expected it would be this exciting. Rory Pendergast a dear family friend, offers Nora a job writing for his newspaper The Intelligencer. It is at the party for the paper that Nora discovers Rory sprawled out on the floor of his bedroom dead; What's a girl to do?
This is was a very good start the serie More...
This is was a very good start the serie More...
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Aug 02, 2010
Jann
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First in the series of mysteries involving the Blackbird sisters.
Nora's parents left the USA and moved to a tax evaders' resort. Sister Emma has the art collection. Sister Libby has the furniture collection. Nora has the property that has been in the family for generations. She also has a two million dollar tax bill and for the first time in her life, she is forced to WORK!
This series is more of a cross between a romance novel and a cozy mystery. It's a quick read if you' More...
Nora's parents left the USA and moved to a tax evaders' resort. Sister Emma has the art collection. Sister Libby has the furniture collection. Nora has the property that has been in the family for generations. She also has a two million dollar tax bill and for the first time in her life, she is forced to WORK!
This series is more of a cross between a romance novel and a cozy mystery. It's a quick read if you' More...
Jun 06, 2011
Andrea
rated it:
One of my friends recommended this series, and being a fan of murder mysteries in general I decided to give it a try. I found the main character, Nora, to be likeable and interesting. The location of the novel is also very fun to read about. I agree with other posters that it seems strange that there would be enough money in a print newspaper to send two writers to lavish parties all the time, but maybe that's just how they do things in upper-crust society. I guess I wouldn't know. Overall
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Jul 16, 2009
Bridget R.
rated it:
Hilarious! If you can't tell from the cover, this book was just plain fun. Nora, a thirty something socialite, has been forced by her parent's tax evasion to get a job. Writing articles for the local newspaper's society page should have been a piece of cake for an ex-socialite. But add to the mix a wrathful senior writer, a murder, and an intriguing new bad boy of a neighbor. Did I mention that Nora doesn't drive because she has a bad habit of fainting frequently with the least bit of provocatio
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Nov 15, 2008
Emma
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Nora Blackbird was living the good life among the posh blue bloods of Philadelphia’s Main Line.How to Murder a Millionaire cover True, she and her two sisters were widows, likely as a result of the Blackbird curse, but time heals all wounds–even the unexpected ones.
Unfortunately, as any good reader will know, the sins of the parents are always visited upon the children. In How to Murder a Millionaire, Nancy Martin’s first Blackbird Sisters mystery, those sins come in the More...
Nov 01, 2011
Cathy
rated it:
This was a fun read, introduction of Blackbird sisters. Great 'whodunit' until the end when it got kind of messy for me. She wrapped things up, I believe, but need to re-read the ending because it was, for me, somewhat confusing. OK, why did they do that, and why the he do that...that kind of stuff. But good enough to pick up another, no doubt. Love her clothes; lucky her for her grandmother's good taste and dollars to buy the best. First Nancy Martin for me and certainly someone I would r
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Aug 07, 2010
Laura
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In this book Rory Pendergast, a rich older man who owns a local paper, is murdered. Nora Blackbird is the one who found the body and tries to help the police because of her connections within Philadelphia society. Eventually, Nora’s home is ransacked and her sisters are missing. Who killed Rory and where are her sisters? I like mysteries like this. Even though there is murder it is not too heavy or disturbing. I have added the rest of the series to my wishlist.
Oct 31, 2008
Mastermia
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This is a witty and enjoyable series set in modern day Philadelphia. Our plucky heroine is Nora Blackbird who solves murders among the upper class that she inhabits as a birthright. Unfortunately her parents have spilt the country, leaving her in debt and causing her to take a job as a society columnist. The set up manages to walk the fine line of giving us a peek into a lifestyle most of us can only dream about, and yet giving her money concerns that resonate with the reader. The secondary
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Jan 01, 2011
Carrie
rated it:
I haven't read a mystery in ages. I only read this one because, stupidly, I only brought one book on our week long visit to Phoenix for Christmas. That one book was Hunger Games and I finished it within 2-3 days and had nothing else to read. My mother-in-law suggested a quick little mystery might be nice, which she happened to have in a box ready for Goodwill.
This was a very quick read with amusing characters. It was a great in-between-read.
This was a very quick read with amusing characters. It was a great in-between-read.
Aug 12, 2010
Toni
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WELL, AS YOU CAN SEE ,I HAD TO GIVE THE PITTSBURGH WRITER ANOTHER CHANCE. THIS TIME IT IS THE BLACKBIRD SISTERS MYSTERY OUT OF PHILLY. MUCH BETTER THAN THE OTHER SERIES. BETTER CHARACTERS,ETC. EASY READ- A LITTLE MYSTERY, A LITTLE ROMANCE AND A PLETHORA OF KOOKY CHARACTERS. CAN READ IN A SITTING AND DO NOT NEED TO THINK=PERFECT DURING MUSIC LESSONS. AGAIN, IF YOU LIKE EVANOVICH'S WRITING ,YOU WILL PROBABLY ENJOY MARTIN'S.
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Feb 25, 2010
Janel
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I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did! The title makes it sound like pure fluff, but it was a fun mystery. The Blackbird sisters are high society 30 somethings who have been left holding the bag when their parents skip the country to avoid the IRS. The characters are interesting and nicely developed, especially Michael Abruzzo, who is ever bit as mysterious and appealing as Evanovich's sexy Ranger character. I will be reading more of this series.
Jan 29, 2010
Jessica
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This kooky family is hilarious from the parents who have fled to avoid jail to the sister who has some weird kids and job after job. Nora, the sanest one in the bunch, is our crime solving heroine who is helping out the police and dating the son of a mob king at the same time. It is always interesting to see how she solves these mysteries and characters are all a little crazy in their own way.
Dec 20, 2011
John
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If you enjoy murder mysteries without a lot of bloodshed, but full of zany characters, then this book is for you. As the tale weaves between East Coast high society types, the settings come to life and the people inhabiting them are fun to read about. The plot kept me guessing until the second last chapter.
Jan 12, 2012
Ugh, overly annoying, whiny family. Couldn't get past the first few chapters.
Side note: The sisters apparently each "inherited" something from their parents...parents who are still alive and well, just living out of the country due to tax evasion. Can you inherit from someone still living? I was fairly certain that could only happen after someone's death.
Side note: The sisters apparently each "inherited" something from their parents...parents who are still alive and well, just living out of the country due to tax evasion. Can you inherit from someone still living? I was fairly certain that could only happen after someone's death.
Oct 07, 2007
Kimberley
rated it:
I had very high hopes for this book. Love the title, love the premise (3 riches-to-rags sisters start solving mysteries). But in many ways, it really failed to live up.
The mystery was okay...but the solution didn't turn out to be half as clever as it could have been. And some of the red herring storylines were weird, and not particularly palatable, to be honest (senior citizens all wrapped up in torrid affairs and erotic art).
I didn't find a lot of humor here, either More...
The mystery was okay...but the solution didn't turn out to be half as clever as it could have been. And some of the red herring storylines were weird, and not particularly palatable, to be honest (senior citizens all wrapped up in torrid affairs and erotic art).
I didn't find a lot of humor here, either More...
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Apr 26, 2011
Janeene
rated it:
Easy, fast read-I am not into fashion so all the descriptions of her Grandmother's clothing that she wears goes right over my head plus I could do without it in the book. I felt the murder was solved way too easily but not a bad read!
Sep 04, 2011
Laura
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G & I were talking about this author this week so I reread & I still like it after 5 plus reads. Quick & breezy. Sisters with different life trend but in distress still looking out for each other resonates with me.
Apr 24, 2009
Mary
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I like how the heroine is a down on her luck rich girl who is trying to hold a steady job and who has a cool fantastic wardrobe. However, both of her sisters seem kind of slutty. Why does it have to be like this?
Jun 11, 2011
Julie
rated it:
Oh, how I love the Blackbird sisters! They're like my two sisters and I. Only they all live in the same town. And they're more stylish. And they're much more interesting. All I can say is - more! more! more!
Jun 05, 2011
Jill
rated it:
A free - or near free - book on my kindle. It took me a couple tries to start this one for some reason, though now I'm thoroughly enjoying all of their storeis and am reading the last in the series.
Jun 19, 2010
Natalie
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What a perfect beach book. It was a quick read, funny, and I adored the characters. My only problem was the end. I just felt it was rushed. I will be looking into the next book though!
Jan 18, 2012
Susan
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Had a difficult time getting into this book. As with some series, the first one has to lay so much groundwork -- set the series up -- that it becomes unwieldy. Book 2 is much better.
Jul 31, 2011
Hollygibbo
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I'm in a chicklit phase, people. This is the first book in a series that blogs have given good reviews to. I hope so. I'm waiting for Catching Fire to come in at the library so I'm reading as much fluff as possible until then.
Update: Ehhh. Not great. Long drawn out and not so interesting lead up to the grand finale. Took me a really long time to read this book.
Update: Ehhh. Not great. Long drawn out and not so interesting lead up to the grand finale. Took me a really long time to read this book.
Oct 12, 2011
Marsha
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Very smart, witty writing. Snappy dialogue, clever plots. Similar to Jennifer Crusie. I've read two so far, and am looking for the other two.
Nov 05, 2010
Laura
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I really like this series. Definitely a guilty pleasure. Fun characters, plot development. Uncomplicated mystery, but not totally predictable.
Oct 04, 2009
Mel W
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This was a fun read. I like a bit more romance with my mysteries but what there was picqued my interest enough to search out the rest of the books in this series.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
