The Rich Die Young

by Carolyn G. Hart

Book by Hart, Carolyn G.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy

198 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Also 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

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ann Farrell is a former reporter who is now teaching at a private school. This is a chance for her to heal after losing someone close to her while overseas.

All seems to be going well until she receives a note on pink paper stating that they know what she's done. Come to find out, she's not the only one receiving ominous notes.

She doesn't take it too seriously until she finds the body of one of her students sprawled on the rocks below an overhang. When it's found that he was murdered, as a reporter she feels honor bound to investigate ... much to Detective Alonzo Fox's dismay.

Her investigation turns up much, much more than she bargained for. And when she starts getting close to the truth, she faces more danger than she ever has before.

This was rather a slow-paced mystery, although intriguing and. So many suspects that muddied the waters somewhat. I did like the character of Ann, although I would have liked more information on her past. Detective Fox was not fully defined, either. I just felt there should have been ... more. The ending seemed rushed, although there was an explanation of sorts.

My thanks to the author / Endeavour Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of THE RICH DIE YOUNG. The opinion expressed here is unbiased and entirely my own.

3.5 Stars

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed this story about Ann, a reporter who is now teaching at a Private School while also grieving a lover who has died. Ann recieves an anonymous letter from someone claiming to have seen her with another teacher and when she is told that a certain student is looking to speak with her Ann deliberately avoids the situation only to find the dead body of that student later in the evening. Once it has been deemed that the student was murdered, everyone on campus becomes a suspect, especially the faculty, most of whom seem to be dealing with poison-pen letters of their own. This was a good, suspenseful story with lots of secrets and multiple suspects. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read most of the author's Death on Demand series many years ago (loved them). This was a lot more serious than that series,and it was a good mystery. I believe this book was first written in the 80s and is being re-released. Although technology has changed quite a bit, that didn't take me out of the story (which often happens in this situation). It was too short for a ton of characterization, but I thought some of the things - like the guilty feelings expressed by various characters - were well done and realistic. 3.5 stars. (Note: I got this book from netgalley, which did not influence my review.)

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining read. Ann Farrell discovers the body of a student. He is thought to be behind some poison-pen letters but is he? As Ann starts investigating all sorts of secrets are revealed from adultery to porn.

[Frances L. Ehrig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teaching Can be Dangerous

I have read almost all of Carolyn Hart's books and I'm always sure to enjoy a good read. Well plotted and well-written, with an interesting heroine. Can't miss!

[Sharon Mensing · Rating 3 out of 5]

I spent several pleasant hours with this book. It takes place at a fictional private school in California, where it seems every teacher has something to hide. Ann Farrell, a journalist trying to find her way back to normalcy after the South American death of her lover, has taken a job teaching at the high school from which she graduated. Unfortunately, normalcy is not to be found. Soon after her arrival, a student is murdered, and Ann finds herself in the midst of swirling innuendos and conspiracies, not to mention a romantic connection with the detective on the case.

This is a cozy, with the main character running around getting involved in the investigation in highly unlikely ways and at her own pleasure. While the police are off investigating a red herring, Ann stumbles across the real murderer. However, the reader will have figured this one out long before the final resolution, which serves as a very abrupt ending to the book. While Ann may not be a fully fleshed out protagonist, there is enough to the plot and to the romance to keep us reading. For a former independent school teacher like myself, the setting brings additional interest.

With the private school setting and some thrilling scenes placed in and over the deep canyon on campus, this short mystery kept me interested and engaged. It was a quick read, with the writing feeling rather transparent.

Thanks to netgalley for proving a copy of this book for review.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

"On a mist-shrouded private school campus in Southern California, ex-reporter and new teacher Ann Farrell finds the body of a student sprawled among the rocks at the bottom of a barranca. Did the victim write the ugly poison pen notes sent recently to several faculty members, including Ann? Did the notes lead to his murder? Ann Farrell doesn't think so. Determinedly, Ann starts asking questions. She gets some shocking answers, and ultimately faces a deadly encounter with a ruthless and calculating killer."--From the publisher.
Author Hart is good at creating suspense and highly readable. There are worse ways to spend a lazy afternoon. However, this particular title really shows its age, particularly the technology (and lack thereof) mentioned and references to (then) current events. The main character is highly flawed, and, for anyone who knows anything about teaching or law enforcement, there are cringe-worthily unrealistic moments--think a cop casually sharing case information with a potential suspect and a teacher and counselor breezily breaking privacy laws regarding student records. At one point, the main character even calls her lesson plan into a student and never shows up to teach her class. These are all career busters in both professions.
Be prepared to not just suspend your disbelief, but to cut all ties with it!
Full Disclosure--Net Gallery and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann Farrell, home from covering the El Salvador war and mourning the death of her lover, killed in a helicopter crash there, has taken a fill in job teaching at a pricey prep school while she tries to put her life back together.

But the peacefulness of the beautiful campus is shattered by the murder of one of the wealthiest students, one of Ann’s students, who had asked her to meet him before he was killed. But Ann didn’t want to talk to him them, and feeling guilty that if she had met him as he wished, he would still be alive, she is determined to find his killer.

Yet his death leads to more complexity and confusion, and the killer’s true identity remains hidden; it could have been any number of faculty members or even a student.

Join Ann has she tries to find the true murderer and meet her new friend, the police detective working on the case, and see if you can help her find the killer, before she, too, might be killed.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to read a book pre-technology. No cell phones, etc :)

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carolyn G Hart is one of my favorite authors. This was a quick and fun read, but easy to figure out.

[Conni Harness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner

[Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

This is a easy read with no great surprises.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book more serious than her other books. Ann is an character would I have liked more information on. The mystery though well written felt rushed to me.