Death in Paradise

Henrie O #4

by Carolyn G. Hart

Six years ago, Henrie O's beloved newspaperman husband Richard lost his life on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Now, on a brisk March morning, a chilling message has arrived by Priority Mail claiming Richard's fatal fall from a towering island cliff was no accident--it was murder. Following cryptic clues and her infallible instincts to a lush and verdant tropical Eden--and to the lavish mountaintop estate of wealthy matriarch Belle Ericcson, where Richard spent his final days--the determined sexagenarian sleuth becoems privy to terrible allegations of greed and jealousy, adultery and abuse...and of a mystery surrounding the kidnap-slaying of Belle's eldes child CeeCee. But now that her search for the truth has brought Henrie O to this lethal paradise where giant palm fronds hide evil deeds from inquisitive eyes, she may never be allowed to leave alive. Because the deaths did no begin or end with Richard Collins...and someone's dark and enduring homicidal passions have yet to be fully satisfied.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

294 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

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

[Diane Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read!
It was a mysterious,suspenseful and very interesting storyline...(paperback!)

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried and I tried, but I just couldn't like this book. I read the whole thing, but for the most part, it irritated me more and more. It was the writing style more than anything and unfortunately, I think it took away from the story for me. Too much description and an almost obsession with 'threes'. Belle Erickson has three children from her first marriage, inherited three more with her second marriage and was married three times. I probably wouldn't have noticed it, if not for the fact that almost every page, Carolyn Hart could not resist utilizing this same 'three' in her descriptions.. Not saying that very well. Here are some examples.. Of course, now I can only find examples with 'four'.. lol, but things like, 'the murderer had to be afraid, watchful, wary'; 'Careful, careful, careful..', 'I took them to their lessons - swimming, dancing, horse back riding'. 'More than I would admit, more than I wanted to recall, more than I was willing to tot up until the final accounting'... and so on.. and then other examples, of let's cover all the bases with this one... 'I saw suspicion, fear, jealousy, dismissal, concern, rejection, avidness, misery and appraisal'.. whew.. I just got so sidetracked with the style, I couldn't enjoy the story. As to the story itself, well, I found it had too much angst, too little mystery and the ending seemed to just be a throw-in. Apologies to those who enjoy her stories, but unfortunately, it didn't work for me. But as always, judge for yourself, this is just my thoughts.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six years after her husband's accidental fatal fall from a cliffside in Hawaii, Henrie O receives a cryptic anonymous message, suggesting that it was not accidental. She must overcome her fears and investigate the accident which will put her face to face with Belle, a woman who may or may not have been her husband's lover. The evidence she unearths seems to give Henrie O alone the power to save Belle's life. Great setting, lots of suspicious characters, suspense and good writing make this one of my favorite Carolyn Hart mysteries. It is the only one I have read from the Henrie O series and it was not necessary to have read any of the previous books to enjoy this one.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first Carolyn Hart mystery I read. I chose it because we were going to vacation on Kauai and this story is set there. I was impressed with Hart's ability to follow in Dame Agatha's footsteps - she laid out the clues, threw in red herrings, fooled me into thinking I knew who had done it, then presented a most likely murderer with all red herrings wrapped up. I like that in a mystery. I hate it when the murderer is totally out of the blue, or the questions arising in the story are never addressed. Carolyn Hart has a great way of logically concluding her very interesting and puzzling stories. Satisfying!

[chels marieantoinette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first henrie o mystery. It started a little slow for me, but then it got really good. VERY details- much more in-depth than the cheeky murder mystery I was expecting. I will be looking for the others in the series.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really two and a half stars.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

When reporter Henrie O receives a strange message suggesting her late husband was pushed from the edge of a hill top Hawaiian mansion, Henrie O follows his last trail to Texas, then to Hawaii where Belle, a retired well known woman reporter, famous for her wartime reporting and friends with Henrie O’s dead husband, lives in her mansion near where Henrie O’s husband died.

Who was the killer? All of Belle’s children from several marriages as well as several friends are there to celebrate the life of Cee Cee, Belle’s daughter apparently murdered years before. One of them might be the killer.

Henrie O probes, asks questions, is suspected of being there to write a book, and as Henrie O’s questions and suspicions begin to edge closer to the truth, another murder occurs.

Told first person in a breathless style, this is a non-stop read – turn off that phone, grab your snacks, and settle down for one great read.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first of this series I have read...would probably pick up another although I will make sure any future ones are in printed form--not audio. The author can certainly "turn a phrase" but can we say verbose? In the printed version I would have been able to skim some of the repetitive descriptions of every flower growing in Hawaii, especially as they did nothing to move the story along. I do recall that I enjoyed her "Death on Demand" series more and will have to try some of those newer ones.

[Wilma · Rating 4 out of 5]

It amazes me that Carolyn Hart continues to keep me guessing till the very end of her Henrie O stories about "whodunnit". I enjoyed the story line of this book set in Hawaii. It was full of intrigue and also extremely descriptive wording that made you feel like you were present on location. I am eager to start the next story.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six years ago, Henrie O's beloved newspaperman husband Richard lost his life on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Now, on a brisk March morning, a chilling message has arrived by Priority Mail claiming Richard's fatal fall from a towering island cliff was no accident--it was murder. Following cryptic clues and her infallible instincts to a lush and verdant tropical Eden--and to the lavish mountaintop estate of wealthy matriarch Belle Ericcson, where Richard spent his final days--the determined sexagenarian sleuth becoems privy to terrible allegations of greed and jealousy, adultery and abuse...and of a mystery surrounding the kidnap-slaying of Belle's eldes child CeeCee. But now that her search for the truth has brought Henrie O to this lethal paradise where giant palm fronds hide evil deeds from inquisitive eyes, she may never be allowed to leave alive. Because the deaths did no begin or end with Richard Collins...and someone's dark and enduring homicidal passions have yet to be fully satisfied.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great addition to this series from Ms. Hart. In this particular story, Henrie O. sets out for Hawaii to visit the home of Belle Ericcson, a devoted friend of Henrie O's husband, Richard. He had always been immediately responsive to any problems that Belle might have and occasionally, Henrie O wondered if their friendship might go farther than that. Belle's oldest daughter, CeeCee, had been kidnapped and killed some time ago. At some point after the incident, Richard heard from someone on the island saying they had information regarding the kidnapping and Richard went to meet the informer...and never came home. Now 6 years later, Henrie O receives a message that indicates that her husband's fall and death were not accidents. When she arrives she tells the family that she is there to possibly write a book about Belle's daughter but her real incentive is to discover what happened to her husband. As always, Henrie O is able to solve the mystery of CeeCee's death and discover the truth about Belle and Richard's relationship.

[NK · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the beginning I was sidetracked by overly descriptive writing and the use of obscure words (i.e. "chatelaine"). Too much of a good thing is still too much. Overall once I got into the story and characters, I really liked the book. I would read more stories featuring Henrie O. (Henrietta O'Grady). The character's style is to the point versus the overly nosey style of other mystery characters.

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this fourth book, featuring Henrie O she is heading to Kauai after receiving a poster letting her know that the death of her husband, Richard, was murder. This happened six years previously but Henrie wants answers now. She will be going to the home of Bella Ericcson who was a reporter and friend of Richard. Henri wants to know about their relationship but more importantly wants to know who murdered Richard and Bella's daughter. The book was a quick easy read.

[Marcy Skala · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh — disappointing. Well, I have read others by Carolyn Hart that I didn’t particularly like, but not in this series. I’ve really enjoyed some of the other books in the Henry O series. She’s a feisty widow in her 60s who travels the world and I’ve enjoyed the mysteries in the Baltic States and in San Antonio TX, but this one seemed forced, constantly repeating to herself the same fears in chapter after chapter. Oh well.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in the free library in our hotel in Vail last weekend. It caught my attention on the shelf because I met Carolyn Hart at a Malice Domestic conference I attended with my Mom many years ago. The writing captivated me right from the start and I couldn't put it down. The characters are all interesting. I did not expect the killer to be who it was. I will definitely be reading more books in this series and other books by this author!

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Henrie O book thus far. Having lived in Hawaii I enjoyed the description of the scenery. I could almost smell the flowers. I thought I k we for sure who the killer was. I was wrong. Completely wrong. My only complaint is that Henrie O tampered with a crime scene. A very well written mystery.
.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because it is set on Kaua’i and I will be visiting there soon. I enjoyed the description of the island but the story had too much description and not enough action. Too much repetition. Just ok.

[Christy Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 4th Henrie O murder. While it has a multi-character plot with twists and turns it drags because of so much background description. I understand Hawaii is beautiful but you can take just so much description of birds and flowers. Yikes. So I dropped it to a 3.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story line is good in this book. This author tends to give too much inconsequential detail in a lot of places. She also goes way off on thought tangents - repeatedly, on the same subject - and has to draw the main character back into the story. It gets annoying.

[Gayle Stever · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out really slow. The last few chapters were great but the first half dragged with too many details about the physical surroundings and not enough about characters. Also Henry O did too many stupid things in this book and she’s not usually stupid. That made it hard to enjoy.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good 'who done it' story with lots of possible suspects.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh

[Susan Moxley]

Henrie O gets a message telling her husband's death was not an accident. So she must go and find out what really happened.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Henrie O mystery. Much different than Carolyn Hart's Death on Demand series.

[Emg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Constant reminiscences of Richard became taxing; without them, this would have been 125 pages tighter and maybe more interesting.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So twisty and emotional. I really enjoyed this installment.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a journalist Henrie O can read people, so when she get a cryptic message leading to her believing her late husband was murdered she sets out to discover if it was true.

[Laurie Hanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An isolated ridge on Kauai provides an exotic backdrop for this old fashioned whodunit. When the family matriarch summons her family together for the annual memorial for their dearly departed (murdered) sister, it creates an almost closed-room scenario. The cast of characters is limited – one of them has to be the culprit. As the story unfolds, we learn that each of them had a motive, each has something to hide. It took me a while to get into this book, but I’m glad I persisted. Once Henrie O. arrives on Kauai, things take off at full speed. The suspenseful tale held my interest and kept me guessing right till the end. Definitely worth the read.

[DelAnne Frazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Death in Paradise - Henry O Mystery Book 4
Author: Carolyn Hart
Published: 9-12-2016
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Pages: 240
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub Genre: Women Sleuths; Crime Drama; Murder
ISBN: 13: 9780380974146
ASIN: B01LZS2794
Reviewer: DelAnne
Reviewed For: NetGalley
Rating: 4.5 Stars


I received a copy of "Death in Paradise" from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.


Description From the Publisher:
Six years ago, Henrietta O’Dwyer Collins beloved husband Richard lost his life on the Hawaiian island of Kauai…

Then, one brisk March morning, a chilling message has arrived by Priority Mail claiming Richard’s fatal fall from a towering island cliff was no accident — it was murder.

Faced with this uncertainty, Henrie 'O' decides to take matters into her own hands. After all, the police investigation ruled Richard’s death as an accident.

Henrie O needs to know the truth and she has reason to believe Richard’s death was not an accident …

Following cryptic clues and her infallible instincts to a lush and verdant tropical Eden — and to the lavish mountaintop estate of wealthy matriarch Belle Ericcson, where Richard spent his final days — Henrie O becomes privy to terrible allegations of greed and jealousy, adultery and abuse.

There are secrets in every family. The more Henrie O gets to know the Ericcson family, the more convinced she is that one of them must have murdered her husband.

But, with the police and private detectives drawing the conclusion that nothing untoward happened, Henrie O has her work cut out.

Her search for the truth has brought Henrie O to a lethal paradise where giant palm fronds hide evil deeds from inquisitive eyes and she may never be allowed to leave alive.

Murder did not begin or end with Richard Collins … and someone’s dark and enduring homicidal passions have yet to be fully satisfied…

Death in Paradise is an emotional thriller that will keep you gripped until the very last page.


My Review of "Death in Paradise":

Looking for a great mystery that will keep you guessing from beginning to end? The emotionally heart wringing story will pull you in and keep you captivated until the very end. With a strong lead Character such as Henry O, with equally developed support characters that Hart uses to bring a story of loss, answers and resolution to life. You will feel Henry O's pain and shock at the note that turns her world upside down because you are standing beside her as she reads it. You are with her as she returns to site of her husband's death and you will be there when a killer is revealed. My rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars.



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[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carolyn Hart never disappoints. In this Henry O. mystery, all of the action takes place on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Henry O. receives a mysterious message hinting that the death of her husband, Richard, on that island was NOT an accident.

Henry O's attempt to solve that and several other mysteries nearly costs her life, but she does persevere and finish the job, while also unravelling another, related mystery