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Mysteries by Design #1
Leading an Elegant Death
Meet Hillary Scarborough, a domestic artiste with a flair for design...and Jane Ferguson, an ex-law student who can't cook or decorate to save her life. Between the two of them, they solve more crimes -- and decorating disasters -- than any other belles of the south...
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
243 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1999
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 1, 2009
This is the first in Carter's series about Hillary Scarborough, a Martha Stewart-type tv hostess, and Jane Ferguson, an almost-lawyer who is hired to be Hillary's assistant when together, on Jane's interview, they discover the body of a dead woman. Unfortunately, the dead woman was Hillary's rival in the tv ratings, so both she and Jane come under suspicion for the murder.
I like cosy mysteries, and this one has good possibilities for a series; however, more development needs to go into the characters and the plotting of the mystery itself if the series is to draw in more readers. The whodunit in this book was weak, and the investigative process consisted more of Hillary driving like a maniac and Jane being scared of her own shadow than it did collecting actual proof of anything or against anyone.
There was humor, though, and all the main characters were very likable. It would be fun to see where Carter takes her people in future episodes. There wasn't enough development of the characters, though, to sustain the story in spite of the weak plot mystery. Somewhat reluctant sleuths are a staple of the cosy mystery genre, but in this case not enough inquisitiveness was written into Jane's character to justify her becoming more and more involved in the developing investigation. And having her 10 year old daughter figuring out aspects of the case before they occur to Jane didn't help the credibility of Jane's character much either.
However, that's not to say this wasn't completely a lost cause. When I finished Leading An Elegant Death I wanted more, and that's always a good sign.
I like cosy mysteries, and this one has good possibilities for a series; however, more development needs to go into the characters and the plotting of the mystery itself if the series is to draw in more readers. The whodunit in this book was weak, and the investigative process consisted more of Hillary driving like a maniac and Jane being scared of her own shadow than it did collecting actual proof of anything or against anyone.
There was humor, though, and all the main characters were very likable. It would be fun to see where Carter takes her people in future episodes. There wasn't enough development of the characters, though, to sustain the story in spite of the weak plot mystery. Somewhat reluctant sleuths are a staple of the cosy mystery genre, but in this case not enough inquisitiveness was written into Jane's character to justify her becoming more and more involved in the developing investigation. And having her 10 year old daughter figuring out aspects of the case before they occur to Jane didn't help the credibility of Jane's character much either.
However, that's not to say this wasn't completely a lost cause. When I finished Leading An Elegant Death I wanted more, and that's always a good sign.
April 1, 2009
I couldn't even finish this one - and that is rare for me. The characters were just laughingly bad. Our sleuth decides to go to the scene of the crime with a known criminal to prove how easy it would be to break in, and then proceeds to break in? Dumb. Her boss, a Martha Stewart wanna be, is so concerned about tidiness she straightens up the crime scene before the police arrive? pleh.
February 16, 2018
Single mother and part-time law student Jane Ferguson really, really needs a job. The only one that seems even vaguely possible is as assistant to Hillary, the Martha Stewart of small-town Alabama. Hillary insists on interviewing Jane while driving to see a new client, who turns out to be dead. The policeman in charge suspects everyone, especially Hillary, who may have had a motive, and who keeps putting her foot in her mouth. Since Jane has had two years of law school, Hillary is sure that her new assistant (yes, she hired her) will be able to solve the murder and clear her name. But the murderer has different ideas.
November 9, 2013
I had never heard of this series before, but I saw it in my local used bookshop and decided to give it a try. The book’s theme revolves around one of the now myriad home styling/cooking/gardening/entertaining experts and TV personalities, a la Martha Stewart.
The TV personality, Hillary, is not the main sleuth. Her new executive assistant, Jane Ferguson, law school dropout, divorcee with a child, is the primary investigator. Hillary’s character is kind of a silly flake, but it seems like it might be an act. A persona she has adopted to go along with her TV identity because when push comes to shove she takes action and is decisive. In the beginning of the book Jane came across like a victim, but by the end she seemed much more capable.
The mystery was well done with clues dotted across the landscape and Jane as a sleuth actually doing investigating, not just stumbling across them. This was a light, quick cozy with a definite southern accent and I will read the others if I come across them. Fans of the Southern Sisters Mysteries might enjoy it.
The TV personality, Hillary, is not the main sleuth. Her new executive assistant, Jane Ferguson, law school dropout, divorcee with a child, is the primary investigator. Hillary’s character is kind of a silly flake, but it seems like it might be an act. A persona she has adopted to go along with her TV identity because when push comes to shove she takes action and is decisive. In the beginning of the book Jane came across like a victim, but by the end she seemed much more capable.
The mystery was well done with clues dotted across the landscape and Jane as a sleuth actually doing investigating, not just stumbling across them. This was a light, quick cozy with a definite southern accent and I will read the others if I come across them. Fans of the Southern Sisters Mysteries might enjoy it.
April 2, 2015
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.
January 28, 2015
Abandoned at page 77.
I could maybe cope with the ditzy domestic diva (Hillary) if her opposite (Jane) showed more than a trace of intelligence or common sense to make up for it, but there's no sign of that happening. And I have many better things to be doing than reading a book that's supposed to be fun, and instead just annoys me!
At least I'll get fifty cents back from the used book store when I return it there.
I could maybe cope with the ditzy domestic diva (Hillary) if her opposite (Jane) showed more than a trace of intelligence or common sense to make up for it, but there's no sign of that happening. And I have many better things to be doing than reading a book that's supposed to be fun, and instead just annoys me!
At least I'll get fifty cents back from the used book store when I return it there.
December 1, 2014
Had to give up on this as it just irritated me. Looked like it could have been a fun mystery but the colloquisms and small town banter plus the over the top "elegant" design language just stopped me enjoying it.
February 19, 2015
There were many reviews that were just okay, but I thought the story was insanely hilarious.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews