What do you think?
Rate this book
Death on Demand #10
Yankee Doodle Dead
In this charming cozy mystery, a South Carolina island bookstore owner investigates when the local July 4th celebration is halted by murder.Master mystery spinner Carolyn Hart gives us the tenth high-spirited entry in her Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Award-winning Death on Demand series.The most delectable sleuthing couple since Nick met Nora, Annie and Max Darling manage to find quite a bit of murder in their allegedly safe and serene South Carolina island resort town. After all, murder is Annie’s business—well, sort of. She’s the proprietor of the popular Death on Demand mystery bookstore and cafe, and her establishment seems to attract trouble like Annie’s pesky felines, Dorothy L. and Agatha, attract hairballs. Now, Annie and Max watch their Fourth of July holiday explode not only with fun and fireworks, but with murder as well.The library board wants to declare its independence from new member, retired Brigadier General Charlton “Bud” Hatch, a man accustomed to being in charge. Hatch’s takeover attitude has alienated everyone in town, especially the women. But Annie finds it difficult to ignore him at a crowded patriotic festival—particularly when he’s shot dead before her eyes...Praise for Yankee Doodle Dead“Rich in Southern atmosphere (lots of live oak, Spanish moss and the ever-present smell of the salt marsh), populated by a diverse and engaging cast, including the fallible, endearing leads, and following a deftly constructed plot line, this tale is charming—and gripping.” —Publishers Weekly
363 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 1998
101 people are currently reading
768 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn G. Hart
126 books944 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
December 19, 2010
I liked this one, but once again my biggest complaint is with the repitition. This time it is the "Speak Your Mind" phrases. I don't think the book needs these to tie it together, especially since there are enough other recurring themes, such as Laurel's fans with the Shakespeare quotes, and all the references to what other famous book sleuths would say or do in Annie's situation. Someone mentioned that this is the last book in the series to include enless lists of books and their authors. I, for one, am glad of that. Namely because I hardly recognize any of the books or authors, which makes me feel kind of stupid, since I read a ton of mysteries and I feel like I've been reading Agatha Christie from the cradle. We don't really need a list of what books Annie has in her window display each month, do we? These lists don't seem to me to serve any purpose other than the author showing off her knowledge of the extensive field of mystery writers. However, despite minor annoyances, I find the books entertaining and sometimes amusing. I will read the rest of the series and then move on to another one.
Want to read
January 26, 2024Found this today in a little free library. 🙂
May 9, 2021
2.5 Stars
rounded up to 3 Stars.
Here's a Speak Your Mind(ism) for Annie: Stop being so full of yourself and self centered because reading about how much a better detective you tell yourself you are than everyone else is quite frankly equivalent to listening to screeching chalk on a blackboard. And a note to the author: Can you please send Laurel on a extended retreat for a few books because she causes reactions to the reader worse than the sound of screeching chalk. She comes across not as an amusing quirky character but a downright senseless annoying one.
Here's a Speak Your Mind(ism) for Annie: Stop being so full of yourself and self centered because reading about how much a better detective you tell yourself you are than everyone else is quite frankly equivalent to listening to screeching chalk on a blackboard. And a note to the author: Can you please send Laurel on a extended retreat for a few books because she causes reactions to the reader worse than the sound of screeching chalk. She comes across not as an amusing quirky character but a downright senseless annoying one.
September 9, 2015
Pretty good. Still feeling out this series.
December 28, 2018
Slightly silly but endlessly entertaining — that's what Carolyn Hart's Death on Demand murder mysteries are. Annie Darling is owner of the Death on Demand bookstore based on a South Carolina island where somehow, she comes across numerous individuals just ready to be murdered. Then there is her husband, the charming and self-employed (although employed is not really the word for a man who has inherited plenty of money and therefore only works when he is interested in being employed) Max Darling, who normally would drive a hard-working woman insane but apparently has enough smarts and devotion for Annie. And then there is Max's mother, Laurel, who when she is not acting crazy, is spouting — at least in this book — lines from Shakespeare.
In this outing, Annie finds herself up to her neck in the planning for a special fourth of July festival that was meant to highlight the contributions of the region's women. That was before Brig. Gen. Charlton "Bud" Hatch moved to the island resort and got involved in much of the communities activities including the library and festival boards and the community center.
The retired military man can only see things done one way and that is his way ... no matter who he walks over to get there. And along the way, he threatens, insults and walks over nearly everyone. And in typical fashion, he tries to take over the festival by diverting the focus to military men.
In his path, he has gotten a young man fired from his job at the community center and threatened to fire the director and the head librarian of the memorial library on which grounds the festival will be held.
Despite it all, the festival goes on with two competing but well attended displays and the fundraising effort is successful. As the evening comes close to closure and with fireworks going off in the background, the general takes to the stage and is shot.
The young man discovers the murder weapon and is questioned about the murder. The apparent finger pointing sets off the community — and the Darlings — to do their own investigating in an effort to clear the young man and find the true guilty party. But the challenge is that there are just so many individuals with an ax to grind against the dead man. And there is only a short window in which to find the solution.
Can the Darlings put it together? Of course! What an enjoyable, relaxing cozy mystery. And if the mystery doesn't get you, the author and book name dropping is sure to please.
In this outing, Annie finds herself up to her neck in the planning for a special fourth of July festival that was meant to highlight the contributions of the region's women. That was before Brig. Gen. Charlton "Bud" Hatch moved to the island resort and got involved in much of the communities activities including the library and festival boards and the community center.
The retired military man can only see things done one way and that is his way ... no matter who he walks over to get there. And along the way, he threatens, insults and walks over nearly everyone. And in typical fashion, he tries to take over the festival by diverting the focus to military men.
In his path, he has gotten a young man fired from his job at the community center and threatened to fire the director and the head librarian of the memorial library on which grounds the festival will be held.
Despite it all, the festival goes on with two competing but well attended displays and the fundraising effort is successful. As the evening comes close to closure and with fireworks going off in the background, the general takes to the stage and is shot.
The young man discovers the murder weapon and is questioned about the murder. The apparent finger pointing sets off the community — and the Darlings — to do their own investigating in an effort to clear the young man and find the true guilty party. But the challenge is that there are just so many individuals with an ax to grind against the dead man. And there is only a short window in which to find the solution.
Can the Darlings put it together? Of course! What an enjoyable, relaxing cozy mystery. And if the mystery doesn't get you, the author and book name dropping is sure to please.
August 27, 2008
How I Came To Read This Book: It was (weirdly) my annual Christmas PJs & a book novel.
The Plot: Annie runs a small murder mystery book shop - but on the side, her and her husband Max are often hired to conduct 'real' investigations, usually to answer a question or find something that's been lost. Annie's investigatory skills are put to the test however, when a newcomer (and much-hated) to the town is murdered on July 4, leaving ten suspects with fairly lame motives. Annie's main motivation for solving the crime? A teenager accidentally finds the murder weapon in the forest - literally fingering him as the murderer.
The Good or Bad: I hated this book with a capital H. The writing was horrible, the 'twist' was lame, the threads were extremely loosely tied together, and overall it was just BRUTAL. I was a bit choked to see it as my annual gift book pick, partially because I'd never heard of it and partially because I'm not a mystery fan, and I'm sad to say the book did nothing to convert me.
Anything Memorable?: Just that it took me FOREVER to read.
Bottom Line: Not worth your time - unless perhaps you're a fan of the series.
50 Book Challenge?: Book #2 in 2007.
The Plot: Annie runs a small murder mystery book shop - but on the side, her and her husband Max are often hired to conduct 'real' investigations, usually to answer a question or find something that's been lost. Annie's investigatory skills are put to the test however, when a newcomer (and much-hated) to the town is murdered on July 4, leaving ten suspects with fairly lame motives. Annie's main motivation for solving the crime? A teenager accidentally finds the murder weapon in the forest - literally fingering him as the murderer.
The Good or Bad: I hated this book with a capital H. The writing was horrible, the 'twist' was lame, the threads were extremely loosely tied together, and overall it was just BRUTAL. I was a bit choked to see it as my annual gift book pick, partially because I'd never heard of it and partially because I'm not a mystery fan, and I'm sad to say the book did nothing to convert me.
Anything Memorable?: Just that it took me FOREVER to read.
Bottom Line: Not worth your time - unless perhaps you're a fan of the series.
50 Book Challenge?: Book #2 in 2007.
June 12, 2021
An average mystery. There are lots of mysteries and mystery writers included in the story. Particularly if you are interested in writers from the late 90s this gives a list of them.
The writer has created a murder victim that has a personality that I really hate. I give credit because the character isn't totally evil and other characters point out he was a black and white type character, rather only saw the world that way. If you agreed with him, he had no problems with you but if you didn't he could be a nasty character. He was also a bigot, a hypocrite in many ways and overall all the bad aspects of a WASP. Not everything he did was bad, but the way he went about it often was. It colored my enjoyment of the book because I hate people like this but kudos for creating a less than savory character but not terrible. Just like most people are.
The writer has created a murder victim that has a personality that I really hate. I give credit because the character isn't totally evil and other characters point out he was a black and white type character, rather only saw the world that way. If you agreed with him, he had no problems with you but if you didn't he could be a nasty character. He was also a bigot, a hypocrite in many ways and overall all the bad aspects of a WASP. Not everything he did was bad, but the way he went about it often was. It colored my enjoyment of the book because I hate people like this but kudos for creating a less than savory character but not terrible. Just like most people are.
December 23, 2013
I could never get engaged with this book. Found the endless lists of mystery novels and authors annoying. I skipped a number of pages from about the middle to the last chapter and didn't feel that I'd missed anything crucial.
March 9, 2021
I quite like this series. So far Southern Ghosts has been my favorite, but in this one I was able to accurately guess the murderer and the reason (albeit towards the end of the book) before the denouement. Yay me! :)
One of the things I really love about these books is the way the author evokes the natural environment of a SC coastal island. I grew up in NY state and she is really spot on about so much - the natural atmosphere, the wildlife, the terrific thunderstorms and how it feels afterwards, the smells of the coast . . . it really helps bring the books to life.
This one's also interesting because it must change the dynamic (I would think) between Henny and Annie.
My big issue with the series is Laurel. I could live forever and ever w/out hearing about Laurel again. She is tiresome, repetitive, spoiled, annoying . . . just an awful character. I'm surprised people don't give her the old "oh, bless your heart" reaction all the time.
One of the things I really love about these books is the way the author evokes the natural environment of a SC coastal island. I grew up in NY state and she is really spot on about so much - the natural atmosphere, the wildlife, the terrific thunderstorms and how it feels afterwards, the smells of the coast . . . it really helps bring the books to life.
This one's also interesting because it must change the dynamic (I would think) between Henny and Annie.
My big issue with the series is Laurel. I could live forever and ever w/out hearing about Laurel again. She is tiresome, repetitive, spoiled, annoying . . . just an awful character. I'm surprised people don't give her the old "oh, bless your heart" reaction all the time.
June 20, 2008
I love these Death on Demand books. They are those easy-to-ready mysteries that you read quickly and just enjoy. Her characters are like people you know. They could be your friends.
This one was enjoyable as usual.
As in all of her books, the author make us suspicious of several characters.
This one was enjoyable as usual.
As in all of her books, the author make us suspicious of several characters.
August 9, 2020
"Good mysteries. Fun mysteries. And that's what summer was all about: snow cones and walking fast on hot sand to plunge into cool water and mounds of mysteries; buckets of clams and kissing in the moonlight and piles of paperbacks with smoking guns or blood-dripping daggers on front covers.... paperback mysteries published in the forties and fifties, oh, what great back covers they had- drawings of the manor house, sketches of the library where X marked the spot, maps of the village showing the rectory and the church, the graveyard and the shops along the high street." (Just so you know, a couple maps DO show up in this book!)
I just never really got into this. Usually with Death on Demand books, once the murder happens, things pick up and I love all the investigating Annie and the team do and the clues they find (the team usually consists of at least three of the following: Max, Henny, Laurel and Miss Dora). But with this one, I had a feeling I knew exactly why Bud Hatch was killed, as well as who had killed him I appreciate that Hart tried to get in some points about racism (when Hatch is first killed, the apparently only black teenager on the island is blamed unfairly) but we never really got further than knowing Samuel was innocent.
I just never really got into this. Usually with Death on Demand books, once the murder happens, things pick up and I love all the investigating Annie and the team do and the clues they find (the team usually consists of at least three of the following: Max, Henny, Laurel and Miss Dora). But with this one, I had a feeling I knew exactly why Bud Hatch was killed, as well as who had killed him I appreciate that Hart tried to get in some points about racism (when Hatch is first killed, the apparently only black teenager on the island is blamed unfairly) but we never really got further than knowing Samuel was innocent.
October 19, 2019
Okay as a mystery it's not bad but there were some things that truly annoyed me in this. To be fair, I wandered into this on book 10 (and have no real desire to find any others in the series which should tell you something). So obviously someone likes this series. Annie runs a book store in town on a small South Carolinian island and her husband, Max is apparently wealthy, more interested in golfing than working.
Annie does three things that really annoyed me to no end. 1) the endless repetition of 'speak your mind' things she wants to say but doesn't. It gets old fast. 2) The endless listing out of fictional sleuths. Okay I get it. She owns a mystery book store and loves mysteries. I have things I'm a super fan of too but I don't constantly list out what Kirk and Spock would have done here. And if it was just one sleuth per incidence it wouldn't be so bad. But no, it's often three or four each and every time. I couldn't help feeling annoyed. 3) Annie's interview style is abrasive and honestly I don't know why anyone on this island talks to this woman with how she handles things.
For that matter, the victim took forever to die. The book is only 270 pages and it takes him over a hundred pages to get his misogynistic self dead. We know General Bud Hatch is going to die (says so on the dust cover) and even if it didn't you want him dead. He comes into town and tries to run it his way, taking over the local youth center and treating it like bootcamp, taking over the library and the fourth of July celebration which was supposed to be about the historic women of town but what do women have to do with history and being interesting? Well nothing according to Hatch.
Naturally someone Annie likes gets blamed (a young African American boy) and she has to save him before the lazy prosecutor settles for the easiest target, i.e. Samuel. Everyone had reason to knock hatch off from the women he was trying to get fired, the gay men he was trying to run off, the husband of the woman who was cheating with Hatch.
So mystery wise there's plenty of suspects but it wasn't all that entertaining.
Annie does three things that really annoyed me to no end. 1) the endless repetition of 'speak your mind' things she wants to say but doesn't. It gets old fast. 2) The endless listing out of fictional sleuths. Okay I get it. She owns a mystery book store and loves mysteries. I have things I'm a super fan of too but I don't constantly list out what Kirk and Spock would have done here. And if it was just one sleuth per incidence it wouldn't be so bad. But no, it's often three or four each and every time. I couldn't help feeling annoyed. 3) Annie's interview style is abrasive and honestly I don't know why anyone on this island talks to this woman with how she handles things.
For that matter, the victim took forever to die. The book is only 270 pages and it takes him over a hundred pages to get his misogynistic self dead. We know General Bud Hatch is going to die (says so on the dust cover) and even if it didn't you want him dead. He comes into town and tries to run it his way, taking over the local youth center and treating it like bootcamp, taking over the library and the fourth of July celebration which was supposed to be about the historic women of town but what do women have to do with history and being interesting? Well nothing according to Hatch.
Naturally someone Annie likes gets blamed (a young African American boy) and she has to save him before the lazy prosecutor settles for the easiest target, i.e. Samuel. Everyone had reason to knock hatch off from the women he was trying to get fired, the gay men he was trying to run off, the husband of the woman who was cheating with Hatch.
So mystery wise there's plenty of suspects but it wasn't all that entertaining.
September 27, 2017
Not Kindle Unlimited, read this, can't remember if hardback or paperback {was hardback for Christie Caper one} but since cats totally knocked down and apart bookcase and had to pack books back up out of way for while, quite a while back {before I was reviewing books on any sort of regular basis if at all}, and while it was more this one too was a 4 1/2, I do remember it {and still have the copy in with my Agatha Christie's of which have omnibuses as well as individual stories}. I liked it enough was happy to see a name actually remembered {horrible at names and titles} but unfortunately no on ku, and with as many as I read a day/week/month just no way could afford to get that many {including ones she co-wrote} but it was a nice blast from the past to see 4 of the books {Christie Caper, Deadly Valentine, Yankee Doodle Dead, and White Elephant}. I remembered the days when my eyes could still {speed read} instead of the computer having to somewhat robotic ally read to me {using kindle for pc, with audio plug in plus narrator and speakonia}, but I do remember it and the fact I kept it during all the various moves says something.
The most delectable sleuthing couple since Nick met Nora, Annie and Max Darling manage to find quite a bit of murder in their allegedly safe and serene South Carolina island resort town. After all, murder is Annie's business -- well, sort of. She's the proprietor of the popular Death on Demand mystery bookstore and cafe, and her establishment seems to attract trouble like Annie's pesky felines, Dorothy L. and Agatha, attract hairballs. Now, Annie and Max watch their Fourth of July holiday explode not only with fun and fireworks, but with murder as well. The library board wants to declare its independence from new member, retired Brigadier General Charlton "Bud" Hatch, a man accustomed to being in charge. Hatch's takeover attitude has alienated everyone in town, especially the women. But Annie finds it difficult to ignore him at a crowded patriotic festival -- particularly when he's shot dead before her eyes...
The most delectable sleuthing couple since Nick met Nora, Annie and Max Darling manage to find quite a bit of murder in their allegedly safe and serene South Carolina island resort town. After all, murder is Annie's business -- well, sort of. She's the proprietor of the popular Death on Demand mystery bookstore and cafe, and her establishment seems to attract trouble like Annie's pesky felines, Dorothy L. and Agatha, attract hairballs. Now, Annie and Max watch their Fourth of July holiday explode not only with fun and fireworks, but with murder as well. The library board wants to declare its independence from new member, retired Brigadier General Charlton "Bud" Hatch, a man accustomed to being in charge. Hatch's takeover attitude has alienated everyone in town, especially the women. But Annie finds it difficult to ignore him at a crowded patriotic festival -- particularly when he's shot dead before her eyes...
October 22, 2024
“Yankee Doodle Dead” is a great read, but not for the reason you might think.
The plot is underwhelming - the person who is to be murdered is advertised from the start and richly deserves to die.
Retired Brigadier General Charlton "Bud" Hatch, a new arrival on the island is a woman-hating blowhard with a penchant for blackmail. His attempts to subvert everything from local festivals to the library mean he is despised by many and feared by more than a few.
When he eventually meets his end Annie, Max and their merry band get together to investigate. Their reason? Unless they prove that their friendSamuel Keaton is innocent he will be facing life in the slammer.
The fact that he was found holding the murder weapon just after the murder …. psshaw!
But, mystery and murder aside, this is a book about books. Specifically, murder mysteries.
Annie Darling runs a bookshop, Murder on Demand, which specialises in quality crime fiction.
She writes:- “The world was now in the very throes of the Second Golden Age of the Mystery and Annie was just the bookseller to acquaint these novice readers with their exciting future—new books and old by present-day masters of mystery Nancy Pickard, Gar Anthony Haywood, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, Bill Crider, Gillian Roberts, Jeffery Deaver, Pat Benhke, William Bernhardt, Barbara D’Amato, Tony Hillerman, Earlene Fowler ...”
I've only read four of those authors and all are top class. Carolyn Hart obviously knows her crime fiction and there are many, many suggestions of types of detectives, methods of investigation, quirks, etc.
I'll be coming back to this book over the next couple of months as I select new authors to read.
What I would sooner forget the seemingly never-ending “Speak Your Mind” in which Annie's subconscious comes up with a bon mot she never actually utters.
3.5 Stars, raised to 4 Stars.
The plot is underwhelming - the person who is to be murdered is advertised from the start and richly deserves to die.
Retired Brigadier General Charlton "Bud" Hatch, a new arrival on the island is a woman-hating blowhard with a penchant for blackmail. His attempts to subvert everything from local festivals to the library mean he is despised by many and feared by more than a few.
When he eventually meets his end Annie, Max and their merry band get together to investigate. Their reason? Unless they prove that their friendSamuel Keaton is innocent he will be facing life in the slammer.
The fact that he was found holding the murder weapon just after the murder …. psshaw!
But, mystery and murder aside, this is a book about books. Specifically, murder mysteries.
Annie Darling runs a bookshop, Murder on Demand, which specialises in quality crime fiction.
She writes:- “The world was now in the very throes of the Second Golden Age of the Mystery and Annie was just the bookseller to acquaint these novice readers with their exciting future—new books and old by present-day masters of mystery Nancy Pickard, Gar Anthony Haywood, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, Bill Crider, Gillian Roberts, Jeffery Deaver, Pat Benhke, William Bernhardt, Barbara D’Amato, Tony Hillerman, Earlene Fowler ...”
I've only read four of those authors and all are top class. Carolyn Hart obviously knows her crime fiction and there are many, many suggestions of types of detectives, methods of investigation, quirks, etc.
I'll be coming back to this book over the next couple of months as I select new authors to read.
What I would sooner forget the seemingly never-ending “Speak Your Mind” in which Annie's subconscious comes up with a bon mot she never actually utters.
3.5 Stars, raised to 4 Stars.
February 28, 2020
This one was on of those harder reads, though again it felt the person murdered was not suppose to be at all likeable.
We start this book, with the 4th of July just around the corner, like the next day just around the corner, Annie is helping the library board to get ready, the board is the one hosting the 4th of July party.
The Library board is run very nasty man, he does have a military past but honestly how in the world did he get voted on the board? Mom and I get a small town and someone having influence, but still to get voted on means that the vast majority of ladies who are on the board must have had a say in the vote, and this man shows no favoritism, let a lone and civility to any of them so how in the world did this guy get voted on, anyway the Library Board want to declare it's independence from the board because they can't stand this man.
You will never guess what happens next, but the next day the 4th of July celebration the guy gets shoot on stage right in front of everyone and a young man is suspected who is so in the underprivileged category it not even funny; and of course Max and Annie can't let this young man be convicted, so of our two sleuths go to save our young friends.
It was an okay read just made hard because the person who was murder was a very nasty man.
We start this book, with the 4th of July just around the corner, like the next day just around the corner, Annie is helping the library board to get ready, the board is the one hosting the 4th of July party.
The Library board is run very nasty man, he does have a military past but honestly how in the world did he get voted on the board? Mom and I get a small town and someone having influence, but still to get voted on means that the vast majority of ladies who are on the board must have had a say in the vote, and this man shows no favoritism, let a lone and civility to any of them so how in the world did this guy get voted on, anyway the Library Board want to declare it's independence from the board because they can't stand this man.
You will never guess what happens next, but the next day the 4th of July celebration the guy gets shoot on stage right in front of everyone and a young man is suspected who is so in the underprivileged category it not even funny; and of course Max and Annie can't let this young man be convicted, so of our two sleuths go to save our young friends.
It was an okay read just made hard because the person who was murder was a very nasty man.
April 1, 2018
I found this to be an extremely boring and confusing book.
First off I love reading cozy mystery stories where the general rule is there are 5-6 suspects. Carolyn Hart is a known cozy mystery writer but this is no cozy mystery! There are a confusing 10 suspects in this book. You need to keep a score card in your head to keep up with them.
Another annoyance with this book is the constant mentioning of other authors and famous literary sleuths. It gets to the point where you start to wonder if Carolyn Hart is bored with writing this book and wants to point you in the direction of more competent writers.
In the end I admit the only reason I chose to read this book was that in the past I was a member of a book of the month club. I have tons of books to read that were selections that I did not opt out in time so they were sent to my house. So I read this book so that I could give it away to Goodwill and let some other poor sucker suffer through it like I did.
First off I love reading cozy mystery stories where the general rule is there are 5-6 suspects. Carolyn Hart is a known cozy mystery writer but this is no cozy mystery! There are a confusing 10 suspects in this book. You need to keep a score card in your head to keep up with them.
Another annoyance with this book is the constant mentioning of other authors and famous literary sleuths. It gets to the point where you start to wonder if Carolyn Hart is bored with writing this book and wants to point you in the direction of more competent writers.
In the end I admit the only reason I chose to read this book was that in the past I was a member of a book of the month club. I have tons of books to read that were selections that I did not opt out in time so they were sent to my house. So I read this book so that I could give it away to Goodwill and let some other poor sucker suffer through it like I did.
June 25, 2023
"Death on Demand" book number 10 "Yankee Doodle Dead" by Carolyn Hart is another 4th of July themed cozy to this series. Well, I think it's the first one the comes to the series but I read the other one first. Main difference between this one and the other is it has a massive build up of story before we get to the murder and the other had a massive info dump on characters and the murder right away. I would personally like a bit more of a middle zone. The murder pretty close to the beginning and then a building of info that is needed to figure it all out.
There is a lot going on in these books and you need to be really paying attention the whole time to not let unnecessary info confuse you if you're not fully paying attention. The murderer ended up being a top pick of my suspects but I was kinda surprised by the motive.
There is a lot going on in these books and you need to be really paying attention the whole time to not let unnecessary info confuse you if you're not fully paying attention. The murderer ended up being a top pick of my suspects but I was kinda surprised by the motive.
April 18, 2022
Yankee Doodle Dead by Carolyn Hart is the 10th book in the series. It is not one of my favorites. The suspects all have their reasons to dislike the victim and it felt like the author could have picked and one of them to be the murderer. Then, at the very end of the story one final heretofore hidden event is revealed, and the killer unmasked. Also, I think the references to other books of the genre is one of the strengths of this series, but if overused it can also one of its weaknesses. That is the case here, where the author seems determined to name as many books and authors as possible. When literally dozens of titles are given their presence changes from color to clutter.
October 15, 2017
It's the Fourth of July on Broward's Rock and the library board is trying to figure out how to separate themselves from misogynistic former brigadier general who is s completely taking over The island in convincing the other men to go along with him.
Because of the number of people that turn up dead on Annie's Highland, it's not surprising that the general will be one of them. The hard part is just going to be narrowing down who actually killed him because God knows there's more than enough people who hated him .
Another Hart book. Not great, not bad.
Because of the number of people that turn up dead on Annie's Highland, it's not surprising that the general will be one of them. The hard part is just going to be narrowing down who actually killed him because God knows there's more than enough people who hated him .
Another Hart book. Not great, not bad.
September 26, 2022
This was the first Death on Demand book that I have read. I enjoyed the fact that there were many suspects and the murderer was not apparent from the beginning. In my opinion, Carolyn Hart uses too many references to other mystery writers and their books. A few would be nice, but too many is a distraction from the storyline. Also, the first 25 or so pages were full of so many metaphors and similes that it was tedious. I almost put the book aside and decided against the series. It did get better, and I enjoyed the book overall. I liked it enough to try another in the series.
March 1, 2024
This book was horrible. Truthfully, I tried to give it a chance I really did but it has way too much verbiage. Way too much description. The writing is absolutely wretched. This writer could’ve summed it up so much better. I started skimming through the book and realized without the descriptions. It’s not a bad plot. Honest to goodness this person has 90% of the book and description and only 10% in any kind of plot. There are far better writers who know how to quickly get a reader through to the plot twist. This writer is definitely not one of them.
August 1, 2021
This was a light plane read selection. There were lots of synopsis of the multiple characters/suspects to assist the reader. I guess the references to other mystery writers and characters helps you understand that the protagonist is truly a bookstore owner, but do people really think like that? It did serve its purpose and kept me occupied and held my interest enough on a long travel day. I dont think i will be seeking out other books in this series.
May 11, 2025
Cute cozy mystery. Annie and Max Darling live on an island off the coast of South Caroline where Annie runs a book shop and Max, who is kind and fabulously wealthy, basically lives a life of leisure. Bud Hatch has recently moved to the island where he has embedded himself in their small community but has alienated a number of people while doing so. When he turns up dead, there is a large number of suspects, including one of her dearest friends, Henny.
September 14, 2024
I forgot that I had started and then stopped reading this after chapter 3....I picked it up again, and after reading 3 more pages, it's a d.n.f.
I have zero patience for the FMC being a pushover. Throw in all those quotes and other nonsense...this is just a terrible book. Definitely not picking up any others in this series.
I have zero patience for the FMC being a pushover. Throw in all those quotes and other nonsense...this is just a terrible book. Definitely not picking up any others in this series.
May 14, 2017
I liked this offering in the Death on Demand series....lots of suspects and twists & turns to determine the murderer. One of the main characters, Henny Brawley, seemed out of character to me but that's okay. Will continue with the series.
October 12, 2018
During these disturbibg, stressful times, a well-written cozy in which the characters are well devoloped and the bad guy gets caught provides some non-caloric stress relief. Better on the body and soul than a large bag of chips!
March 1, 2024
Three stars is too much. Maybe 2.5ish. And that’s only because I didn’t know who did it. I might have if I was into this book. I couldn’t get connected to the characters and at first I had to keep figuring out/remembering how people were connected.
September 18, 2024
This was a good murder mystery when Gen. Hatch was shot with a revolver at the July 4th celebration during the fireworks display. Lots of people didn't like him but who killed him? I didn't have the killer picked out.. Surprised me.
July 10, 2017
I didn't realize this was part of the "A Death on Demand Mystery" series. I may look up some of the others. It was a fun read.
July 31, 2017
I thought it was good. It took me a little time to get into it, but over all liked it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews